The leadership crisis rocking the Ondo State House of Assembly deepened on Wednesday as 21 of the 26 lawmakers insisted that Speaker Olamide Oladiji must either resign or face impeachment over alleged financial misconduct.
The lawmakers accused the Speaker of allegedly mismanaging N44m released to the Assembly by the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, an allegation Oladiji has denied.
Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Olatunji Fabiyi, said the lawmakers had resolved to remove the Speaker if he failed to step down voluntarily before the weekend.
Fabiyi disclosed that the impeachment process was temporarily put on hold following the intervention of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who appealed for more time after the lawmakers briefed him on their grievances.
He said, “Twenty-one members have signed for the Speaker's removal. We have informed the governor that this is not about him but about the leadership of the House and the actions of the Speaker. The governor appealed for time, and that is why the process was delayed.”
The lawmaker alleged that a resolution relating to the OSOPADEC budget was prepared and presented in the name of members without their consent.
He said, “A resolution was written in our names without our knowledge, claiming that members had approved it. We never took such a decision. That is the major issue before us, and if the Speaker refuses to resign, we will proceed with his impeachment.”
Reacting to the allegations, the Speaker dismissed the impeachment threat and the financial misconduct claims, describing them as false and politically motivated.
In a statement issued by his office, Oladiji maintained that there was no leadership crisis in the Assembly and that reports suggesting he was considering resignation were unfounded.
“The reports alleging an impending resignation, impeachment and misappropriation of N44m are completely false. I have never contemplated resigning, and there is no crisis within the 10th Ondo State House of Assembly,” the statement read.
He further alleged that the claims were fabricated by political opponents seeking to destabilise the legislature and create unnecessary tension in the state.
