Ekiti speakership: HURIWA backs Afe Babalola, faults removal of Aribisogan

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), on Friday, faulted the removal of Gboyega Aribisogan as the Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly and his replacement by Olubunmi Adelugba.

HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, in a statement, said political rascality endangers democracy and political gladiators in Ekiti should not be allowed to have their selfish and autocratic ways.

Hence, it advised Aribisogan to pursue legal steps to get his mandate restored lawfully just as the Rights group urged the Courts not to waste time in determining the matter should it be filed soon. 

The group further backed the position of seven legal luminaries and Senior Advocates of Nigeria condemning Aribisogan’s removal as illegal and as one that didn’t follow due process.

They are Aare Afe Babalola, Chief Wole Olanipekun, Dele Adesina, Olu Daramola, Femi Falana, Dayo Akinlaja, and Gboyega Oyewole.

HURIWA further slammed the Ekiti State House of Assembly for insisting that the impeachment of Aribisogan was legal when it was clear that it was illegal as Aribisogan was not allowed to be in office for one day to commit any infraction as the cabal in the Assembly accused him.

Since the death of the former Speaker, Funminiyi Afuye on October 19, 2022, the Ekiti Assembly has been tossed into crisis with the election of Aribisogan on November 15, 2022.

The police in the state sealed off the complex the next day without Aribisogan’s consent or approval.

In a television interview on November 20, 2022, Aribisogan alerted the whole world that there were plans to either impeach him as the Speaker and mentioned former Governor Kayode Fayemi as the architect behind the troubles in the Assembly.

To the shock of the whole world, some lawmakers staged a kangaroo session on November 21, 2022, and announced an illegal removal of Aribisogan and replaced him with Adelugba.

Onwubiko said: “The political rascality going on in the Ekiti State House of Assembly is totally condemnable and illegal. It should not be allowed to slide hence politicians will remove constitutionally installed Speakers at will because of personal vendetta and political witch-hunts.

“By their actions, members of the cabal in the Assembly have shown a penchant for political rascality, brazenness and recklessness that endanger democracy.

“Section 92 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), is clear that once elected by the members of the House, as in the case of Aribisogan, the Speaker shall continue to be in the office all through that particular House except removed from office by a resolution of the House of Assembly by the votes of not less than 2/3 majority of the Assembly.

“The cabal claimed that Aribisogan committed infractions but how does a Speaker whose Assembly Complex was shut a day after he was inaugurated commit an infraction? When did he commit it? And was he given the opportunity to defend himself in line with the principle of fair hearing?

“HURIWA condemns this impeachment and backs the position of the prominent Ekiti senior lawyers because the constitutional steps that must necessarily be followed weren’t followed. We admonish the genuinely elected speaker now purportedly ‘impeached’ to head to court immediately and take back his mandate.”