Crisis in Ekiti House of Assembly 24 hours after election of new Speaker

There was tension at the Ekiti State House of Assembly, yesterday, as aggrieved lawmakers were allegedly mobilising for a showdown over the choice of Speaker, Mr. Gboyega Aribisogan.

Aribisogan was elected as the new Speaker of the Assembly on Tuesday after defeating Mrs. Olubunmi Adelugba from Emure-Ekiti in a keenly contested election.

However, following an alleged intelligence report over a planned invasion by some unidentified thugs, the Commissioner of Police (CP), Adesina Moronkeji, reportedly ordered the Assembly to be shut, just as workers were ordered to return home.

Armed policemen were stationed at strategic locations in the House to prevent the purported invasion and breakdown of law and order.

Some of the workers, who spoke with newsmen under the condition of anonymity, said there was an order from the police headquarters that workers should vacate the Assembly in the interest of peace, saying some people were planning to attack the House of Assembly.

Meanwhile, the newly-elected Speaker, during a telephone chat with The Guardian, said there was no crisis in the Assembly.

He said: “The leadership of the police command in Ekiti State informed us this morning that they had verifiable intelligence about some hoodlums coming to attack the Assembly complex and to avoid breakdown of law and order, hence the need for their (police) presence.

“The police have promised us to conduct an investigation on the matter and report to us before the close of work today.

“I want to encourage my colleagues and workers of the Assembly to be patient and bear with us, as normalcy will soon return to the House.”