The ripple effects of the leadership tussle in the Ekiti State PDP have continued to take its toll on the State House of Assembly as another member, Hon. Jajana Ojo-Ade, representing Ekiti-East Constituency 1, has been suspended nearly two months after another member, Hon. Gboyega Aribisogan, representing Ikole Constituency 1 was suspended.
In a press release on Wednesday, signed by the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Hon. (Dr.) Samuel Omotoso, the suspension followed a plenary consideration of the report of the disciplinary committee which investigated Ojo-Ade.
According to Omotosho, the suspended lawmaker was accused of gross misconduct, financial impropriety, failed attempt at removing the Speaker, violence and physical attack on honourable members, as well as bringing the name of the House to serious disregard and disrepute.
He was subsequently found guilty of “gross misconduct against the Ekiti State House of Assembly, hereby committed an offence by breaching the extant rules and standing orders of this honourable House.”
The statement by Omotosho further disclosed that “the House, at its plenary today, Wednesday 30th of August 2017, unanimously approved the recommendations of the disciplinary committee as follows:
“That Hon Fajana Ojo-Ade is, hereby, suspended from the Ekiti State House of Assembly and all legislative duties for a period of 101 legislative days without pay, in the first instance, except there is a sign of genuine remorse.
“That Hon Fajana Ojo-Ade should write a letter of apology through the Rt. Hon. Speaker to the Ekiti State House of Assembly.
“That Hon Fajana Ojo-Ade is, hereby, barred within a kilometre radius of the Assembly complex and must submit all the official properties in his care to the clerk of the House.”
In June, the lawmaker representing Ikole constituency 1, Gboyega Aribisogan, was also suspended for 108 days for gross misconduct.
Aribisogan then defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and declared himself the minority leader even while still serving out his suspension.
The Ekiti had been polarised at the height of the national leadership tussle of the party. Despite the resolution of the tussle by the Supreme Court in favour of the Senator Ahmed Makarfi led National Caretaker Committee Chairman, some members loyal to the defeated Ali Modu Sheriff faction, including Aribisogan, are yet to be won over.
