Ekiti Assembly member-elect demands swearing-in

EKITI State House of Assembly member-elect Toyin Obayemi (Ado Ekiti 1) has called on Governor Ayo Fayose to prevail on the Speaker, Kola Oluwawole, to obey court order and swear him.

Obayemi, in a letter to the governor made available to reporters in Ado Ekiti yesterday, regretted that members of his party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have been obstructinghis inauguration.

The Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti, on July 4, removed Musa Arogundade, who represents the constituency, and ordered Obayemi sworn in, having found Obayemi to be the valid candidate for the April 11, 2015, House of Assembly election.

Obayemi, in the letter copied to the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, and eminent lawyer Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), said the refusal of the PDP-dominated Assembly to admit him as a member after a court order, “is portraying the party in bad light”.

According to him, he remained a committed financial member of the party after contesting the seat in 2011, and losing to an opposition candidate.
Obayemi said: “… it is an irony of fate that my party (PDP) today constitutes a stumbling block to my progress since the judgment was delivered to the Speaker through the Clerk.

“Permit me with every sense of respect to say that the Speaker should know that those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.

“I was taken aback when the only reason given by the Speaker for his refusal to obey the court judgment and admit me into the House officially was that the case is still in the appeal level. I want to say that till date, I am yet to receive a letter informing me of such position.

“… we must not forget that this is a case of PDP versus PDP and the opposition will not stop laughing at us as a result of the stand of the Speaker refusing to obey court judgment.

“… Sir, I remain a committed and a financial member of the party, and as the leader of the party here in Ekiti, I want to urge you to look at this case from the point of view that all members of the party are one and equal before you, and I appeal to you to use your good offices to let the world know that PDP is not a lawless party.

“Finally Sir, I appeal to you, therefore, to please advise the Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, to do the needful in accordance with the court judgment of July 4, 2016, and perform my swearing-in ceremony.”

The Nation