.Speaker refuses to hold ceremony as youths threaten protest
By Olakiitan Victor in Ado Ekiti
Tension rose on Tuesday in Ekiti State House of Assembly as a lawmaker declared by the court to be the true representative of Ado Constituency 1, Hon. Toyin Obayemi besieged the House for him to be sworn-in as declared by the Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti.
Obayemi stormed the assembly in company of his supporters at about 10.30am and went straight to the office of the Clerk, Mr Tola Esan to submit the judgement delivered on July 4, 2016 by Justice Taiwo Taiwo and the subsequent certificate of return issued to him in Abuja by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC).
However, contrary to expectations, the Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Kola Oluwawole, refused to perform the swearing-in ceremony as security personnel attached to the assembly prevented him from entering the hallowed chambers where the plenary was being held.
Upon reaching the Clerk’s office Obayemi submitted the certificate of return issued to him and the court’s judgement nullifying the election of the occupant of the seat, Hon. Musa Arogundade, for being improperly nominated to fly the party’s flag.
Mr. Odunayo Arinka was elected during the November 16, 2014 primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) , but was later disqualified over alleged falsification of results, following which Arogundade was drafted in as the party’s candidate for the April 14, 2015 House of Assembly poll.
Further details later
