The All Progressives Congress (APC) members in the Ekiti State House of Assembly have faulted an alleged directive from Governor Ayo Fayose calling for their arrest for holding a plenary in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, last Thursday.

They claimed that the governor has directed the Ministry of Justice to write a memo authorising the commissioner of police to arrest them for conducting a sitting in which some resolutions were made.

The APC lawmakers maintained that they cannot be arrested for performing their constitutional duties, adding that they acted in line with Section 101, which allows them to sit in another location in the state capital, if their security cannot be guaranteed in the House of Assembly complex.

In a statement yesterday by the Speaker, Dr. Adewale Omirin, the lawmakers said political thugs have continued to lay siege to the Assembly complex and the situation has endangered their lives.

“The governor or the police cannot arrest us for performing our constitutional duty. Section 101 of the constitution makes it explicit that the House can regulate its activities, including conducting its sittings in public buildings in the state capital.

“The Supreme Court had also ruled that the House can conduct its sittings in public places in the state capital if conditions exist that endanger members in the conduct of their sittings.

“Governor Fayose has kept armed thugs permanently in the House of Assembly to attack us. We can’t put ourselves in harm’s way, yet we have a responsibility to our constituents to make laws for good governance.

“This is why we followed the law to sit to consider issues on the ongoing constitutional amendment.

“Ekiti State has just one House of Assembly. That is why the National Assembly acknowledged the receipt of our resolutions on the constitutional amendment.

“If they are sure of their status, let them approach the National Assembly or the Judiciary for recognition.”