Update: The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero and the Attorney General of Nigeria's federation, Mr. Bayo Ojo both maintained today that the situation in Ekiti State presents a challenge to the FG and as such the government would let the status quo remain until courts of competent jurisdiction determines the outcome of series of litigation arising from the crisis. Both officers of the federal government speaking separately today in Abuja said they will wait for the courts before taking action even though the AG repeated that the actions the members of Ekiti State house of assembly remains 'unconstitutional'.
The IG of police, Mr. Ehindero said the police authorities will continue to provide security to all the parties in the crisis rocking the state. This explains why the impeached deputy governor, Mrs. Abiodun Olujimi resumed back to her office, to official duties today in Ado Ekiti accompanied by full security detail while the newly sworn in Acting Governor, Mr. Friday Aderemi was also provided with an Aide De Camp by the police authorities. The federal authorities were mum on the whereabouts of ex-Governor Fayose who fled the state early on Sunday.
Chief Bode George and Ahmadu Alli, both members of the PDP national leadership have stepped up their intrigues in Ekiti State by asking the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Abiodun Olujimi to insist on her right to become governor since ex-Governor Fayose is nowhere to be found since Sunday morning when it was alleged that he slipped out of his official quarters at about 4:00 AM with the help of the state police commissioner, Mrs. Ivy Uche Okoronkwo.
Mrs. Olujimi, who was impeached along with Fayose yesterday, surprisingly still maintains a full security detail accorded to the deputy governor’s office and resumed to her office today in Ado Ekiti in the state's official car meant for the deputy governor though her siren was silent. She had gone to court yesterday in Ekiti State to seek an ex parte injunction aimed at stopping the swearing-in of the Speaker, Mr. Friday Aderemi as Acting Governor but was told by the judge, Justice Kowe to put the other parties on notice. In a press conference today in Ado-Ekiti, Mrs. Olujimi announced that she is still the bonafide governor of Ekiti State and asked the current acting governor to return to his former position as speaker of the house. Though she appeared very subdued and concilliatory in her demeanor, she maintains that her removal was illegal quoting the Attorney General's statement on the issue.
Sources in Abuja told Saharareporters that Chief Olabode George and Chief Ahmadu Alli have mounted fresh pressure on Obasanjo not to allow the opposition politicians control Ekiti State, they laid claim to the failure of the opposition groups in the state to allow the deputy governor take over power as agreed in different meetings during the crisis even though they were the ones who convinced her to appear before the investigative panel set up by Justice Aladejana. The PDP leadership was said to have drawn Obasanjo’s attention to the impeachment saga unfolding in Anambra State as the reason why something should be done in Ekiti State to serve as a deterrent to PDP members in Anambra State who are hell bent on impeaching Governor Peter Obi.
It is unclear how they will succeed in their mission since the people of Ekiti State have publicly accepted the new arrangement. The new acting governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Friday Aderemi was said to have moved in to take over official duties today while a new speaker was elected in the house of assembly to take over from him. Clearly, there is a degree of uncertainty with regards to the situation in the background in Abuja from PDP party operatives. The whereabouts of ‘fleeing’ ex- Governor Fayose is still unknown.While some sources claimed he has fled Nigeria for good, some others sources claim he is still within nigeria and might actually be in the custody of security agents, who are waiting on orders from Obasanjo as per what to do with him.
The opposition politicians in Ekiti State suspect that his continued and unexplained disappearance from the scene might not totally be unconnected with the current intrigues masterminded by PDP chieftains who felt they lost out in Ekiti State. Also today the house of assembly issued a resolution to remove the suspended chief judge, Justice Bamisile from the state judiciary with immediate effect.
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