A lawmaker, Toyin Obayemi, declared by the Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti as the true representative of Ado Constituency 1 has stormed the state House of Assembly to be sworn in amid protest.

Obayemi, at the Assembly in company of his supporters at about 10.30 a.m., went straight to the office of the Clerk, Mr. Tola Esan, to submit the judgment delivered on July 4, 2016 by Justice Taiwo Taiwo and the subsequent certificate of return issued to him in Abuja by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

But contrary to expectations, Speaker of the Assembly, Kola Oluwawole, refused to perform the swearing-in, as security personnel attached to the House prevented him from entering the hallowed chambers where the plenary was being held.Obayemi, upon reaching the Clerk’s office, submitted the certificate of return issued to him and the court’s judgment nullifying the election of the occupant of the seat, Musa Arogundade, for being improperly nominated to fly the party’s flag.

Meanwhile, commenting on the scenario that played out at the Assembly, Obayemi said it was a flagrant abuse of office and contempt of court for the Speaker to have denied him access in spite of the court’s judgment that validated his victory at the poll.

“I ought to have submitted the certificate of return and the judgment before now, but I learnt the House was on recess. But I thank God that the Clerk had collected my letter and other documents, though he said only the Speaker can act on them.“The judgment delivered by Justice Taiwo Taiwo was very clear. He pronounced me the candidate and ordered the Speaker to swear me in immediately. What the House is doing is tantamount to abuse of position and the Speaker is committing contempt of court. It seems they don’t know the implications of their actions.

Speaker of the House, Oluwawole, said the House would continue to hold the rule of law sacrosanct, maintaining that “as a House of Assembly, it is not just our vow, but also our duty to ensure that decisions of courts of law are held sacrosanct.

“There is a subsisting stay of execution and notice of appeal against Justice Taiwo Taiwo’s ruling on the said suit which Obayemi brought to the House. The House just must wait until the law courts exhaust their processes before actions can be taken.”

Addressing journalists shortly after the plenary, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Olugboyega Aribisogan, who also condemned the invasion of the Assembly complex by securitymen, said: “The Clerk of the House rightly told Obayemi to wait till after the plenary session when he could have audience with the Speaker over his request.”

He said that after having received a notice of appeal and stay of execution by Arogundade against the judgment favouring Obayemi, the House could not simply act against the judicial process until it is conclusive.