There was drama at the Ekiti State House of Assembly yesterday as a lawmaker-elect, Toyin Obayemi, stormed the complex with his supporters, demanding to be inaugurated as the member representing Ado Constituency 1 in line with court judgment.
Armed with the Certificate of Return (CoR) issued to him by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Obayemi, on arrival at about 10.30 am, headed for the office of the Clerk, Tola Esan, to submit a copy of the judgment of a Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti.
The court had ordered that Obayemi be sworn in.
But Speaker Kola Oluwawole refused to perform the swearing-in as Assembly security officers prevented the legislator-elect from gaining access to the hallowed chambers, where a plenary was being held.
As tension mounted sequel to Obayemi’s insistence on enforcing his fundamental human rights, four lawmakers emerged from the hallowed chambers and ordered him to leave the premises.
The Assembly security personnel, acting on the order of the lawmakers, ordered Obayemi to leave the premises after which the two main entrances leading to the complex was shut by riot policemen.
The court, in a judgment delivered by Justice Taiwo Taiwo on July 4, sacked the former occupant of the seat, Musa Arogundade, from office and withdrew the CoR in his possession.
It declared Obayemi winner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary held on November 29, 2014.
The court also ordered Arogundade to refund all salaries, allowances and emoluments he had received since inauguration on June 5, 2015.
The court ruled that PDP ran foul of the law to have fielded Arogundade after disqualifying the winner of the primary, Odunayo Talabi, for allegedly presenting fake certificates for nomination.
The court held that Obayemi, who was second in the primary, was supposed to be nominated by the PDP.
Speaking with reporters on the drama, Obayemi maintained that the authorities of the Assembly must comply with the court order, saying the Speaker and other legislators preventing his inauguration have committed contempt of court.
Obayemi called on Governor Ayo Fayose to prevail on the Assembly to comply with the rule of law, saying the lawmakers are aiding Arogundade to continue to parade himself as a lawmaker having been sacked by a valid court order.
He said: “I ought to have submitted the Certificate of Return and the judgement 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 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.
“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.”
But a group, Ado Ekiti Consultative Forum, has called on the Speaker to swear Obayemi in as a member of the Assembly.
Speaking through its Publicity Secretary, 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. The lawmakers shouldn’t cause chaos in Ekiti,” it warned.