Ekiti speaker, deputy impeached, 12 suspended

Crisis rocked the chambers of the Ekiti State House of Assembly on Thursday as the lawmakers removed the Speaker, Hon. Kolawole Oluwawole, and his Deputy, Hon. Sina Animasaun, and replaced them with Hon. Ebenezer Alagbada (Ise/Orun) as the new speaker, and reinstated the former Deputy Speaker, Hon. Segun Adewumi.

The latest development was like what played out in 2014 when Gov. Fayose took over power and seven members of the then assembly impeached the then Speaker, Dr. Adewale Omirin (APC), and installed Hon. Dele Olugbemi, who just defected to the PDP.

Twelve other lawmakers, including Oluwawole, were suspended for 125 legislative days by the three APC and 11 PDP lawmakers who carried out the changes.

Those suspended are Oluwawole, Animasahun, Omotoso Samuel, Wale Onigiobi, Wale Ayeni, Dare Pelem, Jeje Samuel, Akinleye Dayo, Fajemilehin Ayodele, Fasanmi Temitope, Tunji Akinyele and Sanya Aladeyelu.

At the sitting, Sunday Akinniyi (APC) was elected minority leader, Fajana Ojo-Ade, deputy leader, Cecilia Dada, chief whip, and Musa Arogundade, deputy chief whip.

Addressing newsmen after the plenary, Aribisogan, the new leader of business, said Oluwawole and the other PDP lawmakers were suspended over alleged complicity in the disappearance of N60m in the house.

He added that they were also slammed with suspension for ineptitude, saying they allegedly allowed the reputation of the assembly to be destroyed by the governor.

However, Gov. Ayodele Fayose and the former speaker have condemned the action, alleging police complicity.