Ekiti assembly removes speaker, deputy

Kolawole Oluwawole, speaker, Ekiti state house Of assembly and Sina Animasahun, his deputy, were on Thursday removed by members of the assembly.

The house subsequently elected Adeniran Alagbada as new speaker while Segun Adewunmi, former deputy speaker, was reinstated.

Gboyega Aribisogan was elected minority leader and Sunday Akinniyi who just defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was made the minority leader.

All the new officers have been sworn in.

This is coming less than seven days to the end of the tenure of Ayodele Fayose, the governor.

Oluwawole later issued a statement to say he is still in charge of the assembly.

In the statement issued on his behalf byGbadamosi Oluwawole, his media aide, the speaker said “those who carried out the illegality were provided police cover” and they prevented other members and even staff of the house from gaining entrance into the complex.

“What was done today by some members of the House aided by armed security men is a rape on democracy and an a descent to lowest level of lawlessness and illegality,” he said.

“This is bizarre! In a democracy? This is the height of illegality and it can never stand. As the speaker of the house, I presided over the last adjournment of the House, which was carried out according to laws and laid down rules.

“I retain the power to reconvene the House and I have not done that yet. How then can some people say the House sat? This is totally illegal. The role of the police in this siege is clear.

“As I speak, I have not reconvened the State House of Assembly after it adjourned.”