5th June, 2015
Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State and hundreds of his suporters this morning took to the streets of Ado Ekiti to celebrate the exit of the 19 All Progressives Congress, APC, lawmakers trying to impeach him from office.
The tenure of the legislators lapsed yesterday.
Governor Fayose who rode on a commercial motorcycle popularly called Okada was accompanied to the State House of Assembly in Ado Ekiti by commercial tricycle (Keke NAPEP) and motorcycle owners.
They sang and jubilated that the APC lawmakers were not able to carry out their plan to remove the governor.
The governor had yesterday called on his supporters to troop out this morning to rejoice with him on the streets over the expiration of the tenure of the APC legislators.
Fayose described the end of the term of the APC-controlled legislative Assembly as a big relief and an opportunity for him to begin effective governance.
In a state broadcast yesterday, Fayose said: “I want to thank the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, members, commercial drivers and motorcyclists, market men and women and citizens of this state for their continued support for me while the face-off lasted.
“With the expiration of their tenure, there is relief for me and my administration, and it is now time to perform my duties as governor of the state.
“In view of my travail in the hands of the outgone lawmakers, reprieve has now come to my government and I can now feel like a governor.
“By tomorrow, Friday, June 5, (today) I shall be embarking on a town procession in Ado Ekiti to thank my people for their support. I want you to meet me at Fajuyi Park where I am going to commence the procession and move around to give glory to God and humanity.”
The new House of Assembly which Fayose inaugurated today is entirely dominated by members of his party, the Peoples Democrtatic Party.
Before today’s inauguration, Fayose and his supporters had done everything possible to prevent the 19 APC legislators from entering the state to continue the impeachment proceedings against him.
They barricaded all the major roads leading to Ado Ekiti, the state capital, at different times and ensured that the Assembly complex was locked up.
The supporters mounted vigil at the Assembly complex on a number of occasions whenever they heard that the APC lawmakers were coming to the city.
They used heavy vehicles to block major roads in Ado Ekiti and threatened to attack the lawmakers.
On Monday when the APC lawmakers made moves to return to the city to continue their legislative duties, Fayose’s supporters mobilised heavy duty trucks and blocked all the major roads.
They also mounted vigil at the Assembly complex throughout the day.