JUST IN: Impeached Ekiti Speaker alleges threat to life

Impeached Ekiti Speaker Hon Gboyega Aribisogan has called on prominent indigenes to stop the looming political crisis in the State over what he described as “undue interference in the election of the speaker of the House.”

Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Monday, Aribisogan, who was elected Speaker only last week, alleged that some prominent personalities in his State were not happy with his emergence.
He alleged they were plotting to kill him and other lawmakers that voted for him.

He also called on the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba to intervene in the matter.
Seventeen out of the 25 lawmakers impeached him in the early hours of Monday at the Chamber. But he said his impeachment was illegal.

He told reporters in Abuja: ” About few hours ago around 4:30am, I was called by some of our members that seven out of the 25 members of the Assembly have been taken to the House of Assembly by the police to institute an impeachment process illegally so as to create crisis in Ekiti state, I want to say that as I speak, the seven members are in the chambers of the state House of Assembly. They have also gone ahead to kidnap the clerk of the Sergeant at Arms. They are there since that 5:30 am conducting that illegal impeachment.

“The two of us contested for the seat I scored 15, my opponent scored 10. I won and I was duly sworn in as Speaker. Things were normal and peaceful. We have tried as much as possible to dissuade the police from carrying out this act.
“We are calling on all leaders of APC both at the local, State and National level to rise to the occasion and rescued.

“Presently a team is prowling the city of Ado-Ekiti looking for the 15 members that voted for me. And they said they must be chased out of the communities and Ekiti wherever they find them, even me as now they want to assassinate me.

“As I’m going back now but I’m not dissuaded, I’m going back to see whether they will carry out that dastardly act. I’m telling the press to be on guard because democracy is on trial in Ekiti.
“We will not sit and allow Ekiti to be thrown into confusion. We are calling on all the prominent people in Ekiti and clerics, to come to our rescue. We must not die we must live, Ekiti must progress.”