24 Ondo Lawmakers Move To Remove Speaker

No fewer than 24 members of the Ondo State House of Assembly have declared support for the removal of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, deepening the leadership crisis currently rocking the legislature.

The lawmakers accused Oladiji of financial misconduct, abuse of office and alleged violations of legislative procedure.

The latest development followed the decision of three additional lawmakers to join the 21 members who had earlier backed the impeachment move.

Speaking on behalf of the aggrieved lawmakers, Hon. Olawunmi Fayemi-Obayelu, representing Ilaje Constituency II, said the Speaker had lost the confidence of the majority of members.

She said the lawmakers had deliberately avoided making public statements on the crisis following the intervention of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who provided a two-week period for the parties to reconcile.

According to her, the reconciliation period would expire on Sunday, adding that the lawmakers remained committed to removing the Speaker.

Fayemi-Obayelu alleged that about ₦44 million was involved in the reordering of the budget of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC).

She also accused the Speaker of issuing a House resolution without the approval of lawmakers.

The lawmaker further questioned the handling of electricity meters distributed under the state government’s O’Datiwa Meter Distribution Programme.

She urged Oladiji to resign to protect the integrity of the Assembly and his reputation.

However, Oladiji rejected the allegations, describing the impeachment attempt as politically motivated.

The Speaker alleged that the crisis was connected to political calculations ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He claimed that some of the lawmakers were aggrieved because they had failed to secure return tickets, while others were unhappy over alleged efforts to retain him as Speaker.

But the Assembly spokesman and Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Hon. Olatunji Fabiyi, dismissed the Speaker’s explanation.

Fabiyi insisted that the move against Oladiji was not politically motivated but was based on concerns over governance and accountability.

He alleged that the Speaker acted without the approval of the House in matters relating to the OSOPADEC budget reordering, describing it as a breach of legislative procedure.

Fabiyi said the lawmakers remained united in their position on the proposed removal of the Speaker.

Governor Aiyedatiwa and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have intervened in the dispute in an effort to resolve the crisis.

The intervention, however, has yet to end the disagreement, with the aggrieved lawmakers insisting that they have lost confidence in Oladiji’s leadership.

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