By TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE and YAQUOOB POPOOLA, Ado-Ekiti

Today’s sitting follows last week’s resolution of the 23 lawmakers to impeach the governor and his deputy in consonance with Section 188 (2a & 2b) of the 1999 Constitution.

The governor has in the past few months been embroiled in a run-in with the Ribadu Nuhu-led Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the elite in the state, especially after allegedly bribing 19 out of the 26 lawmakers in the state with the sum of N38 million to impeach his former deputy, Mr. Abiodun Aluko last year.

Opposition heightened when he engaged in brash confrontation with some prominent indigenes of the state such as Chief Afe Babalola, Mr. Femi Falana and some elders in the state including a prominent traditional ruler.

In a letter sent by the lawmakers to Fayose, they accused him of the illegal operation of foreign bank accounts, diversion of local government funds, receipt of illegal gifts and the illegal transfer of the sum of $100,000 to the United States. His deputy was charged with receiving illegal gift contrary to paragraph 6 of the Code of Conduct for public officers. She was also accused of failing to observe the mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps programme. Political observers in the state believe that the impeachment of Fayose and his deputy may be a brisk affairm concluded possibly today if the precedents set during the impeachment of former Bayelsa state governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha last year and the removal of the Governor Rasheed Ladoja of Oyo State are anything to go by.

Security has been beefed up within the state capital following rumours of a plan to cause civil disturbance in the state within a view to disrupts the Assembly’s proceedings.

Meanwhile, putting a brave face on his circumstances, Fayose marked the nation’s 46th Independence Day anniversary with fanfare urging his supporters to eschew violence and remain calm. But for the second time in as as many Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital witnessed another round of protest in support of the planned impeachment of governor Ayo Fayose and his deputy.

Last weekend’s protest organised by some youth appeared to be a dress rehersal for yesterday’s rally which got the blessing of various interest groups in the state capital. They trooped out in large numbers to support the termination of the present government in the state. A counter-demonstration was staged by members of Councillors Forum in Ekiti in support of the governor.

Armed with various placards, they later made their way to the government house where they met with the Governor and expressed their solidarity with him.

They assured him that during the present travail, councillors in the state would not forsake him. According to their spokesman, Mr Sunday Asana, they resolved to stand by the Govenor because of the role he played in their election and his care for them.

While condemning the impeachment move by the 24 lawmakers in the state, the councillors equally criticised the legislators for their lack of appreciation to the Governor who they said has been very kind and funded their oversea tours on several occasions.

Asana who accused the state legislators of greed and self aggrandizement, pointed out that they were out to take over the government of the state to enable them have access to the treasury. In his remarks, Fayose who praised the councillors for their solidarity, also urged them to talk to the legislators to come back home and settle the differences amicably rather than trying to rock the boat of his administration.

The governor said in the past he had tried all he could for the legislators and would not stop at that as all interest would be cared for by his administration.

According to him, his present travails have shown that life was not a bed of roses, and that no matter what anybody does the time to leave office would come one day and there was nothing that anybody could to about it.