APC lawmakers return to Ekiti, suspend PDP colleagues

After spending over a month in exile, 19 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Ekiti state house of assembly returned to the state on Friday.

They held a plenary session, where it was agreed that the sitting of the house would be relocated to the premises of the Ekiti State University (EKSU).

They alleged that the assembly complex was no longer safe for legislative activities because it has been taken over by thugs.

The lawmakers also suspended seven of their colleagues, who are of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and nullified all the legislative activities that the PDP faction have performed since the house got divided along party lines.

Those suspended are Dele Olugbemi, representative of Ikole 2 constituency and also the speaker of the PDP faction; Abeni Olayinka, representative of Ado 2 constituency; Adeyinka Adeloye, representaitive of Ikole 1 constituency; Alexander Adeojo, representative of Ekiti Southwest 2 constituency; Olowo Ajiboye, representative of Oye 2 constituency; Dele Ajibola, representative of Ekiti East 2 constituency and Ayo Olajide-Fatunbi, representative of Moba 2 constituency.

They cited violation of section 96 (1) of the Nigerian constitution as the reason for the suspension and also referred the suspended lawmakers to the ethics and privileges committee of the house for more disciplinary actions.

The assembly had been involved in crisis since October when Ayodele Fayose, the governor, assumed office.

However, the crisis reached its height when the PDP members impeached Adewale Omirin, the speaker, under controversial circumstances.

At the end of their sitting, Churchill Adedipe, the majority leader, moved a motion for the adjournment and the motion was seconded by Folorunso Ogundele.