Ondo Assembly crisis deepens as 24 Lawmakers back Speaker’s impeachment

The leadership crisis in the Ondo State House of Assembly escalated on Friday after 24 of the 26 lawmakers reportedly declared support for the impeachment of Speaker Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji over allegations of financial misconduct and abuse of office.

The lawmakers accused the Speaker of financial impropriety involving about ₦44 million allegedly linked to the reordering of the budget of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC).

Speaking on behalf of the aggrieved lawmakers, Hon. Olawunmi Fayemi-Obayelu, who represents Ilaje Constituency II, disclosed that three additional lawmakers had joined the 21 members who had earlier endorsed the impeachment move.

According to her, the latest development shows that the Speaker has lost the confidence of an overwhelming majority of the Assembly.

Fayemi-Obayelu explained that the lawmakers had deliberately refrained from speaking publicly out of respect for the intervention of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who requested a two-week reconciliation period.

She, however, noted that the reconciliation window expires on Sunday, insisting that the lawmakers remain determined to remove the Speaker from office.

The lawmaker further accused Oladiji of issuing a House resolution without the approval of members and questioned the handling of electricity meters distributed under the state government’s O’Datiwa Meter Distribution Programme.

She urged the Speaker to resign voluntarily in order to protect the integrity of the Assembly and preserve his personal reputation.

Responding to the allegations, Speaker Oladiji denied any wrongdoing and described the impeachment plot as politically motivated.

He claimed the move was driven by political interests ahead of the 2027 general elections, rather than concerns over financial misconduct.

According to the Speaker, some of the lawmakers behind the impeachment effort were dissatisfied after allegedly failing to secure return tickets and were also unhappy over perceived support for his continued leadership of the Assembly.

However, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information and Assembly spokesperson, Hon. Olatunji Fabiyi, dismissed the Speaker’s claims.

Fabiyi insisted that the impeachment process was based solely on issues of accountability and good governance.

He alleged that Oladiji acted without the approval of the House in matters relating to the reordering of the OSOPADEC budget, describing the action as a violation of legislative procedure.

Fabiyi maintained that the lawmakers had not changed their position and remained committed to removing the Speaker.

Although Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have intervened in an attempt to resolve the crisis, the aggrieved lawmakers insist they have lost confidence in Oladiji’s leadership and remain resolute in their impeachment plan.