Ekiti State Assembly Commences Plot To Impeach Governor Fayose

At least 18 members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly have agreed to commence investigations into allegations of grave misconduct against Governor Ayodele Fayose.

Reporters has obtained documents accusing Mr. Fayose of various acts of gross misconduct, a first step to his possible impeachment by the lawmakers.

In June 2014, Mr. Fayose, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), decisively won the governorship of Ekiti State after defeating then incumbent Governor Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) throughout the state. However, a major shadow was cast over the PDP candidate’s victory when SaharaReporters uncovered an audiotape in which several PDP politicians, including then Minister of State for Defense, Musiliu Obanikoro, Minister for Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan, former Senator Iyiola Omisore, and Mr. Fayose ordered Brigadier General Aliyu Momoh to use soldiers to intimidate and arrest APC members in a scheme to guarantee victory for the PDP governorship candidate.

One of the legislators in Ekiti State told our correspondent, “We are going to look at the allegations against Governor Ayodele Fayose in a responsible manner and make our decision in line with the rule of law and the overall interest of the people of the state.”

Asked to comment on the timing of the impeachment plot, a week after the APC’s presidential candidate won last weekend’s presidential election, the legislator said the assembly was already working on the issue before the elections of March 28. “I can assure you that this is not a case of partisan witch-hunt,” the lawmaker said. He added, “We are approaching the investigation with an open mind. No conclusions can be reached without a thorough investigation.”

If the case ends up in Mr. Fayose’s impeachment, he would become the first Nigerian governor to be impeached twice. He was impeached in October 2006 during his first run as governor of the state.