Barely a week after the petitions of All Progressive Congress (APC)’s petitions against the victory of two members of the House of Assembly, Prince Abayomi Akinruntan and Malachi Coker were dismissed, the party Tuesday called for the arrest of the Speaker, Jumoke Akindele and the Clerk of the Assembly, Bode Adeyelu.
Both Akinruntan and Coker were elected on the platform of People’s Democratic Party (PDP). But the candidates of APC challenged the victory at the Election Petition Tribunal.
However, the Tribunal at the weekend threw out the petitions of two APC candidates for the two Ilaje constituencies among others for not complying with the provisions of electoral act in filling the petitions.
The police attempted to arrest the declared winners of the election because of the petitions filed against them. They had to seek the court’s protection before they were, let off the hook.
But Tuesday, the Publicity Secretary of APC, Abayomi Adesanya called on the Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, to immediately order the arrest and the prosecution of the Speaker and the Clerk of the House of Assembly for alleged conspiracy compromising to swearing in the PDP’s House of Assembly candidates for Ilaje Constituencies l and II. Mr. Abayomi Akinruntan and Mr. Coker Malachi.
Adesanya in a statement said: “it is illegal for these two gentlemen to be sworn in as Honourable Members of the State House of Assembly without Certificates of Return from INEC.
“When a candidate is returned elected as a member of the National or State Assembly, a Certificate of Return is issued in the name of the contestant by the Independent National Electoral Commission, which the Clerk of the Assembly will confirmed before performing an oaths of office and allegiance, which in turn will be in the custody of the Speaker of the House for records purposes. In the case of these two gentlemen, they have not followed the due process.
“More so, after the April 11th House of Assembly election of 2015, the Residence Electoral Commissioner in the State, Mr. Segun Agbaje, had signed a statement made available to journalists in Akure that, the election in Ilaje constituency I and II were inconclusive, and that a later date would be announced for the supplementary election in the two constituencies. Till date, the supplementary election has not been conducted in Ilaje Constituency I and II.
“We therefore call on the Inspector General of Police to immediately order the arrest and prosecution of the duo of the Speaker and Clerk for complicity in illegality by allowing Messers Abayomi Akinruntan and Coker Malachi to participate in the business of law making in the State House of Assembly.
“This is a clear case of impunity at its peak and this is how government has been run in Ondo State in the last six years under the leadership of Dr Mimiko. Impunity must stop during the era of President Muhammadu Buhari. Mr IGP, do your job,” the statement reads.
Both Akinruntan and Coker were elected on the platform of People’s Democratic Party (PDP). But the candidates of APC challenged the victory at the Election Petition Tribunal.
However, the Tribunal at the weekend threw out the petitions of two APC candidates for the two Ilaje constituencies among others for not complying with the provisions of electoral act in filling the petitions.
The police attempted to arrest the declared winners of the election because of the petitions filed against them. They had to seek the court’s protection before they were, let off the hook.
But Tuesday, the Publicity Secretary of APC, Abayomi Adesanya called on the Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, to immediately order the arrest and the prosecution of the Speaker and the Clerk of the House of Assembly for alleged conspiracy compromising to swearing in the PDP’s House of Assembly candidates for Ilaje Constituencies l and II. Mr. Abayomi Akinruntan and Mr. Coker Malachi.
Adesanya in a statement said: “it is illegal for these two gentlemen to be sworn in as Honourable Members of the State House of Assembly without Certificates of Return from INEC.
“When a candidate is returned elected as a member of the National or State Assembly, a Certificate of Return is issued in the name of the contestant by the Independent National Electoral Commission, which the Clerk of the Assembly will confirmed before performing an oaths of office and allegiance, which in turn will be in the custody of the Speaker of the House for records purposes. In the case of these two gentlemen, they have not followed the due process.
“More so, after the April 11th House of Assembly election of 2015, the Residence Electoral Commissioner in the State, Mr. Segun Agbaje, had signed a statement made available to journalists in Akure that, the election in Ilaje constituency I and II were inconclusive, and that a later date would be announced for the supplementary election in the two constituencies. Till date, the supplementary election has not been conducted in Ilaje Constituency I and II.
“We therefore call on the Inspector General of Police to immediately order the arrest and prosecution of the duo of the Speaker and Clerk for complicity in illegality by allowing Messers Abayomi Akinruntan and Coker Malachi to participate in the business of law making in the State House of Assembly.
“This is a clear case of impunity at its peak and this is how government has been run in Ondo State in the last six years under the leadership of Dr Mimiko. Impunity must stop during the era of President Muhammadu Buhari. Mr IGP, do your job,” the statement reads.
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