17 lawmakers of the Ekiti State House of Assembly at a plenary on Monday elected a new speaker, Hon.Olubunmi Adelugba representing Emure Constituency.
The lawmakers impeached the former speaker, Hon. Gboyega Aribisogan who emerged speaker last week Tuesday.
Convergence of the 17 lawmakers at plenary today under tight security hinged the impeachment of Hon. Aribisogan on hindering the passage of 2022 Suplementary Appropriation Bill and flouting the arrangement of the party to return speakership to South to complete the remaining tenure of the late Afuye.
Oath of office and allegiance was administered on Hon Adelugba who was said to have been backed by the former governor, Fayemi was elected the first female Speaker in the history of the Assembly since 1999.
Hon. Adelugba appreciated her colleagues and promised not to take the trust and confidence reposed in her for granted. She however adjourned sittings of the House indefinitely.
Six lawmakers and Aribisogan were suspended for an alleged unpatriotic and unparliamentary conduct that could threaten the peace of the state and halting the activities of government.
According to some lawmakers who made their views known on the leadership impasse said Aribisogan’s actions contravene the provisions of the House Standing Rules and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The six lawmakers suspended alongside the impeached Speaker were : Hon. Tajudeen Akingbolu (Ekiti West 1), Hon. Tope Ogunleye (Ilejemeje), Hon. Ajibade Adeyemi (Moba 1), Hon. Adekemi Balogun (Ado 1), Hon. Yemi Ayokunle (Ekiti Southwest 1) and Hon. Adegoke Olajide (Efon).
The Deputy speaker, Hon .Jamiu who presided over the plenary had earlier dissolved all existing principal officers and appointed Hon. Johnson Oyekola Bode-Adeoye as the new Leader of Government Business while he retained the already dissolved Committee on Appropriation.
Speaking on Aribisogan and the six suspended lawmakers , Deputy Speaker Jamiu said they were suspended without pay with immediate effect and they are barred from 1.5km radius of the premises of the House.
Saying the lawmakers are to hand over properties of government in their possession to the Clerk of the House and anyone of them wishing to be reabsorbed must write a letter of apology to the leadership of the House
Precise New gathered that the lawmakers were crossed with the impeached Speaker for flouting the directive of APC leaders to allow South complete the tenure of late Afuye’s speakership . Also, Aribisogan was said to have taken the internal affairs of the state Assembly to Channels TV.
The new Speaker, Mrs. Adelugba, after adjourning plenary led her colleagues to the State Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to keep them abreast of change of leadership in the Assembly.
Recall that barely 24 hours after the emergence of Aribisogan on 15 November,2022 with 15 votes to defeat the anointed Adelugba who garnerred 10 votes .The House has been enmeshed in leadership tussle which led to the closure of the Assembly last week on security intelligence and subsequent arrest of some hoodlums that wanted to set the Assembly Complex ablaze.