Suspended lawmaker’s resumption causes stir in Ekiti Assembly

Suspended lawmaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Chief Gboyega Aribisogan, resumed at the assembly on Thursday after after the 180-day suspension, and caused a stir with his resumption.

On his arrival at the Assembly complex, Aribisogan, representing Ikole Constituency I headed for the office of the Clerk of the Assembly to submit a letter he said was from his constituency.

At the office office of the Clerk, Mr. Tola Esan, Adibisogan submitted a letter he said was conveying the decision of members of his constituency that he should resume his legislative duties.

Aribisogan told newsmen that he had resumed his legislative duties according to the wishes of the people of his constituency, whom he said had consulted the standing rules of the House and the constitution of the country to advice him.

Aribisogan said: “I have resumed at the Assembly and I want to say without any fear of contradiction that they have no right to suspend me for 180 days. The standing rules say they have no right to suspend me for more than 14 legislative days.

“Having consulted with my constituency, they went through the standing rules and the constitution and they discovered that the House was wrong to have suspended me for 180 legislative days.

“There is no way they can prevent me from coming to the chamber; I am loyal to my constituents and I am loyal to the Constitution. Their failure to sit today cannot prevent me from performing my legislative functions.

“I man loyal to my constituency who voted for me and sent me to the House to represent them and not to an individual. For how long will they avoid me? I am back for good.”

However, the assembly did not sit on the day.

The legislator was suspended for 180 legislative days o October 6, 2916 by the Assembly for allegedly holding meetings with the political opponents of Governor Ayo Fayose in Lagos.