Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji yesterday received the new Speaker of the House of Assembly, Bunmi Adelugba, following the removal of former Speaker Gboyega Aribisogan.

The lawmakers on Monday removed Aribisogan barely six days in office and immediately installed Adelugba, who had contested the plum legislative seat against the former.

The House of Assembly complex was earlier sealed off by the police, as members were embroiled in a controversy, following the death of former Speaker Funminiyi Afuye.

Afuye, 66, died at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital on October 19, after suffering cardiac arrest.

A month after his death, the assembly held an election and Aribisogan, who represents Ikole constituency 1 and a two-term lawmaker, emerged against the wish of some power brokers in the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Governor Oyebanji received the new speaker and 17 other lawmakers, who were sympathetic to her candidature, at the Conference Hall, Governor’s Office, Ado-Ekiti.

Oyebanji, who praised them for the honour of introducing the new speaker to him, pledged his support to party supremacy and Adelugba-led assembly.

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He described the leadership crisis rocking the assembly as a family affair, pleading for a healthy and genuine reconciliation process to recall the seven suspended lawmakers, in the interest of Ekiti people.

He sought the cooperation of the house toward his administration’s commitment to take Ekiti to a purposeful and higher pedestal in terms of growth and socio-economic development.

Adelugba thanked the governor for being neutral before and during the process that culminated in her emergence as the new speaker.

She pledged to support the party and the Oyebanji-led administration to ensure it exceeds the people’s expectation through enactment of people-oriented laws and policy frameworks.

A new set of principal officers has emerged in the assembly, following Adelugba’s emergence.

They are Hakeem Jamiu, who retained his position as Deputy Speaker, while Johnson Oyekola Bode Adeoye is the new Leader of Government Business.

A statement by the new speaker listed Adeoye Aribasoye (Ikole constituency 1) as Chief Whip; Deputy Leader, Abiodun Fawekun (Ido/Osi constituency); while  Ayodeji Ajayi is the Deputy Chief Whip.

The appointment is with immediate effect.