EKITI ASSEMBLY GETS SECOND SPEAKER IN SIX DAYS

Ekiti Assembly today impeaching Speaker Gboyega Aribisogan after six days in office.

Seventeen out of the 25 lawmakers in the Assembly, who voted for Aribisogan’s removal, replaced him with the former Chief Whip, Bunmi Adelugba, representing Emure Constituency.

The oath of office was subsequently administered on Mrs. Adelugba, who became the first female Speaker in the history of the Assembly since the return to democracy in 1999.

By Adelugba’s emergence, Ekiti Assembly has had two Speakers in six days following the death of late Funminiyi Afuye who suffered cardiac arrest.

Aribisogan was elected Speaker last Tuesday during a keenly contested election where he defeated Adelugba with 15 votes against 10.

Following his election, the Assembly has been enmeshed in deep-seated crisis as some of them and leaders of the All Progressive Congress(APC) were said to be favourably disposed to Adelugba.

Twenty-four hours after he was sworn in, the Police laid siege on the premise of the Assembly complex over claims that some persons were planning to attack the lawmakers.

At the emergence plenary held behind closed door presided over by Deputy Speaker, Hakeem Jamiu on Monday, the embattled Aribisogan was suspended indefinitely for allegedly blocking the passage of the 2022 Supplementary Appropriation Bill.

Six other lawmakers were also slammed with suspension for compromising the process of the election that produced Aribisogan as the Speaker among other alleged unpatriotic and unparliamentary conduct capable of threatening the peace of the state.

Aribisogan and the six lawmakers were also barred from vicinity of the House of Assembly Complex within the radius of 1.5km for their actions which, according to their colleagues, offend the provisions of the House Standing Rules and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.