Police shut Ekiti House of Assembly to block APC Lawmakers

The same police that "interpreted" the law to withdraw Speaker Aminu Tambuwal's security are now finding it hard to understand that 7 members can not be greater than 19 members in Ekiti State.

There was tension in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday as the 19 APC lawmakers stormed the Ekiti State House of Assembly to resume their legitimate legislative duties.

Their return caught workers and the seven PDP lawmakers loyal to Governor Ayodele Fayose unawares and created tension as officials of the Assembly hurriedly vacated their offices.

The return of the lawmakers followed Tuesday’s directive by the state secretariat of the APC asking them to resume legislative duties as impunity has been defeated in the country.

But over 100 soldiers and police operatives promptly took over the Assembly to maintain peace while the Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, ordered its immediate closure.

The 19 APC lawmakers had been on self-exile since November 20, 2014 when the seven PDP lawmakers illegally removed the Speaker, Dr. Adewale Omirin with the help of the police in the state.

Mr. Dele Olugbemi, an ally of Governor Fayose, was installed as the Speaker by the faction and had been presiding over the Assembly.

The Speaker Omirin-led lawmakers arrived at the Assembly in a convoy of 14 vehicles at around 12noon and hurriedly went into parliamentary session which started with praise and worship, as well as prayer said by Mr. Folorunso Ogundele, representing Efon constituency.

The session lasted for 10 minutes and the lawmakers emerged from the Assembly and briefed the pressmen, who had patiently been waiting outside.

Omirin, who spoke on behalf of members, said they were in the assembly to begin their legislative duty.

As they emerged from the Assembly, some of them chanted ‘Sai Buhari Sai Baba’ – the political slogan of the president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari.

“Why are you surprised that we are here? I don’t expect you to express surprise that we are in our offices because we were duly elected as members of the state House of Assembly.

“This is my office and I shouldn’t be asked why I am here. Though we have instituted a case against the seven lawmakers for the fake impeachment against me, but that would not prevent us from doing what we are supposed to do,” Omirin stated.

But the Commissioner of Police said he took the action to prevent violence in the state, saying the police must be proactive to prevent Ekiti from being plunged into crisis.