The All Progressives Congress in Ondo State, through its Publicity Secretary, Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya, has called on the Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, to immediately order the arrest and prosecution of the Speaker, Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Jumoke Akindele and the Clerk of the House of Assembly, for alleged conspiracy with Governor Olusegun Mimiko by swearing in the two Peoples Democratic Party’s House of Assembly candidates for Ilaje Constituencies l and II. Mr. Abayomi Akinruntan and Mr. Coker Malachi.
At a press briefing in Lagos, Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya said, “it is illegal for these two gentlemen to be sworn in as Honourable Members of the State House of Assembly without Certificate of Return from INEC.
“When a candidate is return 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 confirm 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.
”Moreso, 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.