From Dipo Okunmuyide in Ado-Ekiti, 09.27.2005

At the sitting of the House which began at 4.25 p.m. yesterday, the majority leader, Hounourable Kayode Babade moved the motion for the adoption of item 2 in the rules of proceedings which dealt with the report of the judicial panel set up to investigate the allegations of gross misconduct levelled against the Deputy Governor and called on the Acting Clerk to circulate copies of the report to members.
After the report was circulated, the Speaker of the House, Honourable Friday Aderemi called for the constitution of the executive section to debate and study the report and asked observers at the gallery and journalists to stay outside the chambers for the period the deliberation would last.
The pressmen were recalled into the chambers after 20 minutes after which the Majority leader of the House, Honourable Kayode Babade again moved for the impeachment of the Deputy Governor, saying the report of the panel indicted and found him guilty of the 16 allegations raised against him by the lawmakers
The Speaker eventually called for vote on the matter with 22 members voting in favour of the motion, 2 against, 1 member absent and the Speaker who is the 26th member abstaining from voting.
At the end of voting, the Speaker pronounced the Deputy Governor removed from office with immediate effec.He said Aluko was guilty of the 16 allegations levelled against him and stands removed as the state's Deputy Governor in accordance with section 188 sub section 9 of 1999 constitution.
Aderemi said members of the House collectively and individually have tried at various occassions to call Aluko to order and told him the need to be loyal to his boss, saying it is sad that all efforts in this direction were to no avail.
He recalled that the act of disloyality started as a mustard seed during the period that the Alliance for Democracy [AD] took the governor to the election petition tribunal to contest his educational qualification when Aluko started mobilising people with view to take over as governor if his boss eventually lost the case.
The Speaker also accused Aluko of clashing with party leaders at his home town, Ikere-Ekiti on several occassions, saying he has equally been guilty of circulating confidential documents to the press and the opposition.
Meanwhile, the PDP in Ikere-Ekiti local government has suspended the former deputy governor.