Ondo Speaker given Sunday deadline to resign or face impeachment

Ondo Speaker given Sunday deadline to resign or face impeachment

A fresh political crisis has erupted in the Ondo State House of Assembly after a majority of lawmakers reportedly gave Speaker Olamide Oladiji until Sunday to resign or face impeachment over allegations of financial misconduct linked to the Ondo State Oil-Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) budget.

The latest development marks a significant escalation in the leadership dispute within the Assembly, with 21 of the 26 lawmakers said to have endorsed an impeachment notice against the Speaker, signalling that he may have lost the confidence of a substantial majority of members.

The lawmakers accuse Oladiji of improperly handling funds connected to the reordering of the OSOPADEC budget and authorising a legislative resolution without the knowledge or approval of members.

The controversy follows earlier allegations that the Speaker and his deputy were involved in the diversion of ₦44 million earmarked for the reordering of the OSOPADEC budget. While the allegations have fuelled calls for his removal, Oladiji has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Olatunji Fabiyi, confirmed that lawmakers had resolved that the Speaker should vacate office, saying the decision was reached after members lost confidence in his leadership.

According to Fabiyi, the lawmakers deliberately informed Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of their decision before commencing impeachment proceedings to dispel speculation that the governor or external political interests were behind the move.

“We have resolved that Mr Speaker should go. But in the wisdom of the leadership of the House, we felt we should meet with Mr Governor,” Fabiyi said.

He explained that the Assembly leadership wanted the governor to understand that the crisis stemmed from internal legislative concerns rather than political interference.

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“The one we did before, they were castigating us, saying somebody was sponsoring us. So, to avoid that, the leadership of the House went to Mr Governor to tell him that this one is not about him.”

Fabiyi disclosed that 21 lawmakers had already signed the impeachment notice, insisting that the Speaker no longer enjoys the support of the majority of Assembly members.

He added that the lawmakers decided to give Oladiji an opportunity to resign voluntarily before taking the matter to the floor of the House.

“We are giving him till Sunday. If he fails to resign, we will remove him,” he declared.

At the heart of the dispute is the reordering of the OSOPADEC budget. The lawmakers alleged that a resolution concerning the budget was prepared and presented in the name of members without their consent.

Fabiyi claimed lawmakers neither met to approve the resolution nor authorised anyone to present it as the collective position of the Assembly. According to him, the action amounted to a serious breach of legislative procedure and was one of the major reasons members initiated the impeachment process.

He also accused the Speaker of failing to carry lawmakers along on decisions affecting the House and the management of legislative affairs.

An anonymous lawmaker similarly alleged that adjustments made to the OSOPADEC budget were carried out without the approval of most Assembly members.

The source claimed impeachment proceedings had begun about three weeks ago but were delayed after Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa intervened and requested more time to resolve the crisis.

The lawmaker maintained that members remain determined to remove the Speaker if he refuses to resign before the deadline.

Despite mounting pressure, Speaker Olamide Oladiji has rejected all allegations against him.

He denied any involvement in financial misconduct and dismissed reports suggesting that a valid impeachment process was already underway.

The Speaker insisted he was unaware of any impeachment notice and described the accusations as unfounded.

Supporters of the Speaker have also argued that all actions taken regarding the Assembly’s finances and legislative resolutions complied with established procedures.

Under Section 92(2)(c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), a Speaker of a State House of Assembly can only be removed through a resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the members of the House.

With 21 lawmakers reportedly backing the impeachment in the 26-member Ondo State House of Assembly, the constitutional threshold appears to have been met if the reported signatures are verified and all procedural requirements are fulfilled.

Political observers believe the Assembly’s next plenary session could determine whether the Speaker resigns voluntarily or faces a formal impeachment vote.

The unfolding crisis is expected to shape political developments in Ondo State, as stakeholders watch to see whether last-minute interventions can prevent another leadership shake-up in the Assembly.

Ondo Speaker given Sunday deadline to resign or face impeachment