7 Ekiti lawmakers ‘impeach’ speaker, deputy

Seven lawmakers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Ekiti state house of assembly on Thursday impeached Adewale Omirin, (pictured) the speaker, as well as his deputy, Adetunji Orisalade.

The assembly has a total of 26 members.

The PDP lawmakers said they arrived at the decision because Omirin and orisalade had abandoned their legislative duties.

“The business of the house cannot grind to a halt; government is a continuum. Omirin and his deputy have been absent without official notice,” said Samuel Ajibola, majority leader of the house.

“They are also guilty of revealing official secrets, misappropriating assembly funds and signing of bonds with the past executive without the knowledge of other members of the house.”

Though the assembly had been divided along party lines, particularly since Ayodele Fayose assumed office as governor, the crisis reached its height on Monday.

In the absence of their counterparts, the PDP lawmakers, backed by heavy police protection, approved nominees for commissioner and the local government caretaker committee of Fayose, which was opposed by APC lawmakers.

Dele Olugbemi, who presided over Monday’s meeting and was appointed as Pro tem speaker, has now been elected as the new speaker and Abeni Olayinka, as his deputy.

Meanwhile, the state government has ordered Omirin and Orisalade to return all the state’s property within their possession.

Modupe Alade, the secretary to the state government, issued the directive in a statement.

Assuring residents of the state that there was no cause for alarm, Alade called on the police to provide adequate security for Olugbemi and Olayinka.