The Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, has alleged that lawmakers who failed to secure the All Progressives Congress return tickets for the 2027 elections are behind the renewed push to remove him from office.
Oladiji, who is facing impeachment threats over allegations of mismanaging N44 million released by the Ondo State Oil-Producing Areas Development Commission, claimed the campaign against him was politically motivated rather than driven by concerns over his leadership.
The crisis followed the reported endorsement of an impeachment notice by 21 of the 26 lawmakers in the Assembly, who accused the Speaker of mishandling funds meant for the reordering of the OSOPADEC 2026 budget.
The aggrieved lawmakers also insisted that plenary sessions would remain suspended until Oladiji either resigned or was removed from office.
Responding to the allegations, the Speaker dismissed the accusations, insisting they were linked to political interests ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to him, some lawmakers fear he could return as Speaker if he wins re-election, believing Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa still supports his leadership.
"They don't want me to come back as Speaker in 2027. That is the major issue. We are politicians and we know what is happening. Why did these complaints not come in the last three years? Why now during the election period?" he said.
Oladiji maintained that the Assembly had enjoyed relative peace throughout his three-year tenure until the current political disagreements emerged.
He expressed confidence that efforts by APC leaders and other stakeholders to reconcile the feuding parties would soon resolve the crisis.
"We are distinguished colleagues and we know how to settle our differences. Leaders of the party are already intervening, and by the grace of God, this issue will become history within the next one week," he added.
However, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Olatunji Fabiyi, rejected the Speaker's claims, insisting that the impeachment move had nothing to do with the APC primaries or lawmakers who lost return tickets.
Fabiyi said the lawmakers were acting over what they described as repeated misconduct, abuse of office and constitutional breaches allegedly committed by the Speaker.
"He keeps making excuses. First, he claimed the Minister of Interior was sponsoring us. Now he says it is because some of us lost our tickets. That is not the issue," Fabiyi said.
He further accused Oladiji of issuing a resolution on the reordering of the state budget without the approval of the House, describing the action as unconstitutional and fraudulent.
Fabiyi insisted the lawmakers had not changed their position, stressing that the Speaker must vacate office in line with their resolution.
Source: The Cable
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