Alleged anti-party activities: Ondo assembly declares seats of two lawmakers vacant
By Akintunde Jacobs, Akure
The Ondo State House of Assembly has declared the seats of lawmakers vacant over alleged anti party activities.
The lawmakers include, Favour Tomomewo, representing Ilaje State Constituency 2 and her counterpart representing Ese-Odo constituency, Success Torhukerhijo.
The House at the plenary on Tuesday presided over by the Speaker, Bamidele Oleyelogun, however, directed the Independent Electoral Commission INEC, to conduct a bye election within 90 days for their constituencies.
According to the speaker, the decision followed a letter from the Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), in the state, Ade Adetimehin to declare their seats vacant as the duo were alleged to have fully participated in the activities of another Party, PDP during the last gubernatorial election and Assembly primaries in the State.
Oleyelogun said based on the APC’s letter and the House having acted in accordance with the section 109(1)and (g) of the 1999 constitution as amended, the House was declaring their seats vacant while a letter should be written to INEC to conduct a bye election into the seats within 90 days.
He directed that their benefits and entitlements be stopped forthwith and all government properties in their possession returned. The Speaker affirmed that there was no crisis or division from Ward to the National level of APC to warrant their actions.
Meanwhile, a bill for a law to provide for the establishment of Multi-Door Court and other matters connected thereto,2022 has been passed into law.
The passage followed the submission of report by the House Committee on Judiciary for consideration and approval at a plenary.
Presenting the report, the Committee said that the establishment of Ondo State Multi-Door Court House is long overdue and a welcome development by all stakeholders.
It noted that if the bill is eventually passed into Law, it will create a window/avenue for alternative dispute resolution that will include the entire range of alternative to litigation that involves third party intervention to assist in the resolution of a dispute.
According to the report, the bill if passed into law will further enhance easy access to justice by providing alternative mechanism to settlement of litigation in the resolution of disputes in the state and also minimize frustration and delays in Justice delivery by providing a standard legal framework for the fair and efficient settlement of dispute through alternative dispute resolution.
In the Committee’s observation, the bill will promote the growth and effective functioning of the Justice system in the State through alternative Dispute Resolution methods.
The Majority Leader Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi then moved the motion for the bills to be passed into law, and was seconded by the Lawmaker representing Akure South constituency II, Sunday Olajide.
In the same vein, a bill for a law to provide for the establishment of the Ondo State Competition and Consumer Protection Agency law and other matters connected therewith was committed to the House Committee on Commerce and industry after scaling through the second reading.
