The Ekiti State House of Assembly yesterday suspended the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Chief Olugboyega Aribisogan, for 180 legislative days over allegations of holding meetings with a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Abisogan was accused of associating with the Chief Williams Ajayi faction of the party, which is believed to have the backing of Senator Buruji Kashamu representing Ogun East Senatorial District.

The former chairman of the Information Committee was also accused of holding nocturnal meetings with the senator.

The decision to suspend Aribisogan was taken during plenary and a new Chairman, House Committee on Information, Samuel Omotoso was chosen.

Aribisogan was also barred from holding any position of responsibility on behalf of the House during his suspension.

He was also barred from coming around the premises of the Assembly complex.

Reacting to the development, Aribisogan said he would confer with his constituents on whether to seek redress in court over the matter.

He described the decision as a travesty of justice, adding that his suspension was a desperate attempt to emasculate him politically and deny the people of Ikole local council the opportunity to vie for the federal constituency election, which will be jointly held with Oye local council in 2019.

According to him: “This is a complete scam and I am not bothered in any way. I have been presumed guilty before I appeared before the panel, so I am not surprised. How can they force me to confess to an offence I didn’t commit?”

Meanwhile, the state government has started the payment of N5,000 to each of the 10,000 beneficiaries of its social welfare scheme.

The beneficiaries, who are indigent members of the society and cut across various sections of the society, started receiving the first payment through their bank accounts on Wednesday.

In a broadcast in Ado-Ekiti, Fayose announced that the money was being paid directly into the accounts of the beneficiaries.

The governor gave the assurance that despite the economic downturn, his administration would find ways of helping the people to live a comfortable life.

He said the 10,000 beneficiaries were the first phase of the scheme, adding that: “As soon as the economy of the state improves, another 10,000 people will be added.”

He added that beneficiaries were chosen among the physically-challenged, albinos, visually-impaired, the aged, among others.

He explained that by directly crediting the accounts of recipients, the state has eliminated fraud and ensured that the real beneficiaries got the money.