ONDO SPEAKER SWEARS IN NEW MEMBER, WANTS SPEEDY IMPLEMENTATION OF FINANCIAL AUTONOMY.
The Speaker, Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Honourable David Bamidele Oleyelogun has sworn in a new member of the House, Honourable Ololade Gbegudu, representing Okitipupa state constituency two.
This followed a supreme court judgement nullifying the election of Mr Akinwumi Adesina, a former member of the House, representing Okitipupa state constituency two.
Honourable Gbegudu had earlier approached an Akure High Court, claiming that he was the winner of the primary election conducted by the APC in Okitipupa state constituency two and hence should be declared as the party’s candidate.
The litigation process dragged through the Appeal Court to the Supreme Court.
In its ruling, the Supreme court in August this year noted that Honourable Ololade Gbegudu validly won the House of Assembly primary election earlier conducted by the APC in Okitipupa state constituency two and hence was supposed to be the party’s flagbearer in the general election conducted into the Ondo State legislative Chamber in the area.
In its unanimous ruling, the Supreme Court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to withdraw the certificate of return earlier issued to Honourable Akinwumi Adesina and give it to Honourable Ololade Gbegudu.
Earlier before the swearing-in, the speaker Rt Honourable David Bamidele Oleyelogun noted that the decision to swear in Honourable Gbegudu was taken at the parliamentary session of the House after having gone through the litigation process from the beginning to the Apex Court of the land.
He added that as believers in the rule of law, members unanimously agreed that Honourable Ololade Gbegudu should be sworn in at the plenary in line with the order of the Supreme Court.
The speaker at the plenary then called for a voice vote to ratify members position and it was unanimously agreed that Honourable Gbegudu should be sworn in.
Speaking after his swearing-in, Honourable Gbegudu attributed the entire process to the will of God.
He maintained that the littigation process only strengthen the line of relationship between him and his kin.
He added that arrangements have been concluded to assuage the cost of the litigation on his opponent.
Honourable Akinwumi Adesina was earlier in June 3 this year, sworn in with other lawmakers across the 26 state constituencies.
With the swearing in of Honourable Ololade Gbegudu, Honourable Akinwumi Adesina ceases to represent the Okitipupa state constituency two.
In another development, the Speaker, Rt. Honourable Oleyelogun thanked the state Governor Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for the renovation of the temporary Chamber being used by the House.
He called on the state government to speedily rehabilitate the old Chamber in order to further enhance the performance of their legislative duties.
The Speaker equally called on the Federal and State governments to Fastrack the implementation of the financial auatonomy for states Houses of Assembly in order to enhance the delivery of democracy dividends to the people.
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