The political crisis in Ekiti State showed no sign of subsiding yesterday as the Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, and the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Chief Friday Aderemi, went into hiding, even as the seven-man panel set up by the House’s Acting Chief Judge, Justice Jide Aladejana, is expected to submit its report to the assembly today.
The Dele Omotosho-led Aladejana panel, which was inaugurated last week to investigate alleged gross misconduct by Fayose and his deputy, Chief Biodun Olujimi, concluded its sitting yesterday, despite the violent attack on the House of Assembly Complex venue of its sitting on Friday.
The tension that enveloped the state after hoodlums’ attack on the assembly complex, however, worsened yesterday with the report of the arrest of three of the governor's aides, including a female media assistant who was allegedly found in possession of a gun.
Speculations about the governor's disappearance became high when he was absent from a rally scheduled for Rev. Abiodun Adetiloye Hall of the Trade Fair Complex, Ado-Ekiti.
THISDAY’s several calls to the governor and some of his aides’ mobile phone lines did not go through as they were switched off.
However, THISDAY information said that the deputy governor was holed up in her official residence yesterday although she too did not answer calls to her lines.
But security was tightened in the state capital, Ado-Ekiti, as the police mounted guard at all entrance to the town as well as public institutions, including the Trade Fair Complex, House of Assembly Complex, Government House, Oke-Yinmi, Fajuyi Park and Ijigbo Junction.
Police armoured tanks paraded the streets even as residents of the troubled capital town stayed indoors.
When THISDAY visited the Government House at 3.30pm yesterday, it was desolate. There was heavy security surveillance with riot policemen keeping vigil. The gate was blocked giving no room for both vehicular and human movements.
The situation was not different at the House of Assembly Complex where riot policemen kept watch.
Besides, a lorry load of riot policemen was equally on ground, parading the nook and cranny of the city to prevent a possible break down of law and order.
The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Zone 8, Mr Ade Ajakaye, and the Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, Mrs. Ivy Okoronkwo were seen at the assembly complex, dishing out instructions to their men.
The governor was last seen on Saturday while driving round the state capital, addressing party members and faithful. He went round the city shortly the Dele Omotoso-led acting chief judge’s panel rounded off its sitting.
Meanwhile, ahead of the submission of the acting chief judge’s panel report, the governor and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are already thinking of how to maintain their hold on the state beyond 2007.
At a meeting held in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, at the weekend and attended by the PDP members in the National Assembly and notable leaders of the party, three options were reportedly considered.
Sources said that the first option, which some leaders wanted to impose on the party was the outright impeachment of the governor and his deputy to pave the way for the emergence of the speaker as acting governor for three months before another election would come up in January next year.
It was further gathered that this option supported by a section of the party leaders was considered to be too costly as the party in its present state was unprepared for two governorship elections within a month.
Moreover, there was the need to heal the wounds caused by the high handedness of the Fayose administration, which forced many founding leaders of the party to seek refuge in other parties.
The second option according to information, was to allow the deputy governor to take over while the speaker, becomes deputy governor.
The speaker was, however, given the choice of either retaining his present office or become the deputy governor.
THISDAY information further revealed that the third option was to look for another deputy governor if the speaker opted to retain his position.
Three notable party leaders were reportedly proposed for the position: Prof. Segun Ojo, Prof. Tunde Adeniran and the immediate past Commissioner for Information under Fayose, Mr Kayode Otitoju.
However, Otitoju, according to party sources appeared more favoured because of his wide acceptability as well as his experience as a former member of the Fayose administration that could help to stabilize the transition government that would emerge.
Competent sources further hinted that Adeniran, who was largely considered in view of his high profile appointments in the past, might be dropped to allow him to actualize his senatorial ambition.