There was tension in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, yesterday, following the rumour that the 19 All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers were allegedly planning to storm the state to begin an impeachment process against Governor Ayodele Fayose.
All roads leading to the state House of Assembly complex were cordoned off by armed policemen to prevent those not on official duties at the State Secretariat located within the same axis from gaining entry.
Patrol vans, Armoured Personnel Carrier as well as combat ready anti-riot policemen were on guard at the assembly complex to forestall a breakdown of law and order.
Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), supporters of the governor as well as commercial motorcyclists were seen in groups along Secretariat and NTA roads, while human and vehicular movements were prevented by the mounted barricades.
Such barricades were also reportedly mounted on roads connecting Ekiti to other neighbouring states.
Addressing newsmen in Ado-Ekiti on the matter, Fayose insisted that all the entitlements of the APC lawmakers have been paid as part of the agreement reached in the meeting held in Akure penultimate week, contrary to Speaker Adewale Omirin’s claim that they were yet to be paid.
The governor who flaunted copies of the Skye Bank cheques dated May 26, 2015, issued to the lawmakers to corroborate his claim, said he brought the issue to the knowledge of Ekiti people to avert a major crisis in the state.
One of the cheques, which bore the name of Boluwade Bolie Kehinde, was received on behalf of the lawmakers and had a sum of N2, 149, 052 .37 on it.
The governor said any impeachment proceeding against him by the APC lawmakers would be tantamount to illegality in view of the ruling delivered by Justice E. S. Chukwu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which ordered that status quo as at April 23 be maintained pending the determination of the motion on notice.
The PDP factunal speaker, Hon Dele Olugbemi and six other lawmakers had in a suit number FHC/ABJ CS/361/2015 filed at the Federal High Court sought an interlocutory injunction among other reliefs restraining the APC lawmakers from commencing impeachment process against Fayose.
“They have been dropping the name of President Muhammadu Buhari as giving them the backing to impeach me. How can an Assembly, whose tenure will wind up on Thursday be planning this? I wonder why the issue of the past should be allowed to come to play now.
“As at the date the court gave the order, I mean April 23, Hon Adewale Omirin was not the speaker. It will be wrong for the Court order not to be respected. This is illegality and I want to raise this for the public to know.
“Omirin has gone to court to challenge his impeachment and later withdrew such, which means he accepted he had been impeached and a cost of N100, 000 was awarded against him.
“So, he is not the speaker. I am calling on well-meaning Nigerians, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mohammed Mahmoud and President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in this matter,” Fayose said.
On how, when and where the payment of the salaries and other benefits to the lawmakers was made, Fayose said: “They came to collect the cheques in Ado Ekiti in company of the commissioner for finance, Mr Toyin Ojo.
“The issue would have been discussed publicly during the peace parley, but they insisted that it should not be discussed openly because they didn’t want the leaders of their party to know,” Fayose said.
PDP Warns Outgoing Ekiti APC Lawmakers
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned outgoing Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers against causing confusion and mayhem in the state in their bid to secure political control of the state.
The party in a statement issued by the national publicity secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh yesterday, said it is aware that the outgoing lawmakers are desperate to wreak havoc in the state before the end of their tenure on Thursday.
PDP warned that its members will be fully mobilised to stiffly resist the scheme and the mission to unseat Fayose.
The party warned the lawmakers to watch their steps and not to take its civility for granted, saying it would not hesitate to defend the governor with all means allowed by the law.
“We wish to state in very clear terms that we would not condone any more move by the rejected APC lawmakers to subvert the will of the people of Ekiti State as expressed in the mandate freely given to Governor Ayo Fayose.
“These outgoing APC lawmakers whose mandates have already been withdrawn by the people should watch their steps and not in any way take our civility and Governor Fayose’s deportment for peace, unity and harmony for granted.
“We issue this as a final warning. Our members and supporters in Ekiti State are able, willing and ready to defend our mandate using all available instruments granted by the law , We have the capacity and will have no other option unless the APC lawmakers retrace their steps and embrace peace. Enough is enough,” the PDP said.
The party noted that the position of the Federal High Court on the status of the lawmakers and proceedings of the house regarding the odious plot to impeach Governor Fayose is clear, adding that it would not in any way “condone or tolerate any move by the APC lawmakers to subvert the course of justice.”
Lauding the people of Ekiti State for their courage in standing by Governor Fayose, the PDP urged President Muhammadu Buhari to call the lawmakers to order, especially given the olive branch already extended to them by the governor in the interest of peace and development of the state.
The party charged security agencies to be on high alert and ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order in the state.