Anxiety in Ekiti Assembly, as lawmaker-elect refused swearing-in

There was tension in Ekiti State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, as a lawmaker declared by Court to be the true representative of Ado Constituency 1, Hon. Toyin was denied entry and refused swearing-in.

Hon. Obayem stormed the Assembly on Tuesday morning 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 10.30 a.m. 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, the Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Kola Oluwawole refused to perform the swearing-in ceremony as security personnel attached to the Assembly prevented Obayemi from entering the hallowed chambers where the plenary was being held.

Obayemi, upon reaching the Clerk’s office, submitted the Certificate of Return issued to him and the court’s judgment nullifying the election of the occupant of the seat, Hon. Musa Arogundade.

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.

Obayemi, who came second in the primaries, had approached the court and prayed it to declare him the validly elected candidate, which the court had granted.

When it was obvious that Obayemi was at the  Assembly to enforce his mandate and that tension was already building , four lawmakers suddenly emerged from the hallowed chambers and told him to leave the premises.

Apparently acting on order from above, the security men also ordered him to leave the Assembly and the two main entrances   leading to the palatial assembly complex were closed by anti-riot policemen.

Two police vans and over 10 anti-riot policemen were stationed at the entrance to conduct serious check on  those  entering the Assembly.

Commenting on the scenario that played out at the assembly, Obayemi said it was a flagrant abuse of office and contempt of court for the Speaker to have denied him access in spite of the court’s judgement that validated his victory at the poll.

His words, “I ought to have submitted the certificate of return and the judgement before now, but I learn’t the house was in recess . But I thank God that the Clerk had collected my letter and other documents, though he said only the speaker can act on them.

“The judgement delivered by Justice Taiwo Taiwo was very clear. He pronounced me the candidate and ordered the speaker to swear me in immediately. What the house is doing is tantamount to abuse of position and the speaker is committing contempt of court.  It seems they don’t know the implications of their actions.

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“The Federal Government must caution the policemen. How can they be harassing me despite flaunting the necessary documents, including a court judgement? Let me put it on record that Musa Arogundade may be preparing himself for jail if he is still parading himself as the occupant of that seat.

“If a member of the same political party that is desperately looking for reconciliation could be treated this way, I can’t imagine what would have happened  to me if I am a member of the APC”, he said.

Obayemi, however, pleaded with Governor Ayodele Fayose, whom he described as an Apostle of the Rule of Law,  to advise the House to do the needful in his case.