From Wole Balogun, Ado Ekiti
There was tension in Ekiti State House of Assembly yesterday as a lawmaker, Toyin Obayemi, stormed the House and demanded he be sworn-in as ordered by an Ado Ekiti Federal High Court.
The court had declared Obayemi as the true representative of Ado Constituency 1 on July 4.
But some members of the House said Speaker Kolawole Oluwawole could not swear him in due to a counter-appeal pending at the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti.
Obayemi stormed the assembly in company with his supporters at about 10.30am and made straight for the office of the Clerk, Mr. Tola Esan to submit a copy of the judgment delivered on July 4 by Justice Taiwo Taiwo nullifying the election of the occupant of the seat, Musa Arogundade. He also submitted the certificate of return issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
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 the PDP allegedly chose Arogundade 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 duly elected candidate, which the court had granted.
Commenting on the development, 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 judgment that validated his victory at the poll.
“I ought to have submitted the certificate of return and the judgment before now, but I learnt 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 judgment delivered by Justice 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.
“The Federal Government should call the police to order. Why are they harassing me despite flaunting the necessary documents, including a court judgment? Let me put it on record that 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 cannot imagine what would have happened to me if I am a member of the All Progressives Congres (APC),” he said.
Obayemi pleaded with Governor Ayodele Fayose, whom he described as an apostle of the Rule of Law to advise the House to do the needful.
Meanwhile, a group under the aegis of Ado Ekiti Consultative Forum has urged the speaker to swear Obayemi in as a member of the assembly.
Speaking through its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Ojo Felix, the group said “failure to do so, we will mobilise Ado Ekiti indigenes to occupy the assembly and enforce the rights of one of their own.”