Security operatives are currently battling to contain anti-impeachment protests in parts of Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital.

The protesters are against moves by members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly to impeach the state governor, Ayodele Fayose, over alleged constitutional infractions.

The police have erected heavy security check points in strategic locations across the capital. Entry routes have equally been blocked and taken over by armed security operatives.

It would be recalled that the Ekiti State police command had stepped up security in the state following the service of an impeachment notice on Governor Ayodele Fayose by the House of Assembly, which has heightened tension, particularly in Ado Ekiti.

The state police commissioner, Taiwo Lakanu, told newsmen in Ado Ekiti on Sunday that he had ordered a 24 hour security alert on major towns and cities, including the state capital, particularly the House of Assembly.

Lakanu acknowledged that tension had built up following reports of threat of impeachment on the governor, adding that the police was being proactive to forestall any breakdown of law and order.

The 19 lawmakers of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in the state Assembly last week served Fayose an impeachment notice, accusing him of several infractions of the law.

They accused the governor of eight impeachable offences bothering on impunity, invasion of the House of Assembly with thugs, orchestrating an unconstitutional election of a Speaker, and sponsoring an illegal impeachment process in the Assembly.

The lawmakers also accused the governor of operating an illegal budget not duly approved by the House.

Governor Fayose and the 19 APC lawmakers in the 24 member Assembly have been at loggerheads since elections in June last year, with the legislators relocating to Lagos due to fear for their safety.

However, the lawmakers were emboldened to return to the state last week after the victory of the APC at the presidential election won by its candidate, Muhammadu Buhari.

Their attempt to reconvene the House was, however, thwarted by the police which denied access to the legislative assembly and sealed it off.

Governor Fayose has dismissed the impeachment threat as a joke, saying that he had a mandate to govern the state and that the people who elected him would defend it.