ADO-EKITI—TENSION is mounting in Ekiti State as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lawmakers in the House of Assembly, yesterday, reconvened under the supervision of a Speaker Pro-Tempore, Dele Olugbemi.
Though Olugbemi claimed that those who sat were 10 in number, there are only seven known PDP lawmakers in the House. Governor Fayose has been at loggerheads with the Assembly over its refusal to sit and approve his nominees for different positions.
Early yesterday, two Armoured Personnel Carriers were deployed to the premises of the Assembly, with scores of riot policemen on standby.
The lawmakers were driven to the House in a Toyota Coaster bus marked EKSJ 111. They were heavily guarded.
Some already confirmed special advisers of Governor Fayose were at the premises of the House to monitor proceedings.
The seven members that sat, yesterday, included six lawmakers, who defected from the All Progressives Congress, APC to the PDP during the inauguration of Fayose as governor and one original PDP member.
Samuel Ajibola, a PDP lawmaker representing Ekiti East Constituency 1, performed the role of Leader of Government Business at yesterday’s sitting. He told his colleagues that the House Standing Order empowered the House to appoint Speaker Pro-Tempore (pro-tem) in the absence of the Speaker, Adewale Omirin and his deputy, to preside over the day’s business.
Those who sat, yesterday
Backed with House Order, Dele Olugbemi from Ikole Constituency II, was subsequently appointed Speaker Pre-tempore. The seven PDP members, who sat, included the six former APC members— Ajibola Samuel— Ekiti East II; Adeojo Alexander— Ekiti South West II; Adeloye Adeyinka— Ikole I; Israel Olowo Ajiboye — Oye Constituency II; Fatunbi Olajide J. A —Moba II; Olugbemi Joseph Dele- Ikole II and Olayinka Modupe Abeni— Ado II.
Backed with House Order, Dele Olugbemi from Ikole Constituency II, was subsequently appointed Speaker Pre-tempore. The seven PDP members, who sat, included the six former APC members— Ajibola Samuel— Ekiti East II; Adeojo Alexander— Ekiti South West II; Adeloye Adeyinka— Ikole I; Israel Olowo Ajiboye — Oye Constituency II; Fatunbi Olajide J. A —Moba II; Olugbemi Joseph Dele- Ikole II and Olayinka Modupe Abeni— Ado II.
Ajibola read out the names of the three commissioner-nominees which included a former commissioner for Justice and Attorney General in the state during the first term of Mr Ayo Fayose, Mr Owoseni Ajayi; former Commissioner for Finance, Chief Toyin Ojo and former Commissioner for Works, Mr Kayode Osho.
The house screened and ratified the three commissioner-nominees and granted the governor power to appoint 12 special advisers who are to function as members of the cabinet.
Immediately the confirmations were concluded, Olugbemi adjourned sitting.
The house screened and ratified the three commissioner-nominees and granted the governor power to appoint 12 special advisers who are to function as members of the cabinet.
Immediately the confirmations were concluded, Olugbemi adjourned sitting.
This illegality cannot stand — Omirin
In his reaction, the Speaker condemned the action of the seven PDP lawmakers saying “this illegality cannot stand.”
In his reaction, the Speaker condemned the action of the seven PDP lawmakers saying “this illegality cannot stand.”
According to the statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Wole Olujobi, the seven PDP members also attempted to pass resolutions “to ratify the many illegalities of the governor.”
He said: “We have heard of this reckless abuse of the constitution from other states like stories in the movies, but today before our very eyes, Governor Fayose provided seven members of PDP with 300 armed mobile policemen complete with armoured vehicles to conduct a plenary in the House of Assembly to approve the reconstitution of the council care-taker committees and confirmation of the commissioner-nominees without the 19 members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in attendance.
He said: “We have heard of this reckless abuse of the constitution from other states like stories in the movies, but today before our very eyes, Governor Fayose provided seven members of PDP with 300 armed mobile policemen complete with armoured vehicles to conduct a plenary in the House of Assembly to approve the reconstitution of the council care-taker committees and confirmation of the commissioner-nominees without the 19 members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in attendance.
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