The crisis in the Ondo State House of Assembly has taken another turn as 24 out of the 26 Lawmakers are now said to be supporting the removal of Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji. The Lawmakers accuse him of financial misconduct and abuse of office.
The dispute is linked to about ₦44 million, which they claim was connected to the reordering of the budget of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC).
Speaking for the Lawmakers backing the impeachment move, the Member representing Ilaje Constituency II, Hon. Olawunmi Fayemi-Obayelu, said three more Lawmakers had joined the 21 Members who had earlier declared support for removing the Speaker. She said the latest development shows that the Speaker no longer enjoys the confidence of most members of the Assembly.
According to her, the Lawmakers had avoided speaking publicly because Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa stepped in and requested a two-week period to allow efforts toward resolving the crisis. However, she explained that the reconciliation period will end on Sunday and insisted that the Lawmakers remain determined to continue with the impeachment process.
Fayemi-Obayelu also accused the Speaker of issuing a House resolution without first getting the approval of Members. She further questioned the way electricity meters distributed under the State Government’s O’Datiwa Meter Distribution Programme were handled.
She appealed to Oladiji to step down voluntarily, saying such a decision would protect both the image of the Assembly and his personal reputation.
Reacting to the allegations, Speaker Oladiji denied any wrongdoing. He argued that the impeachment effort was driven by political interests rather than claims of financial misconduct.
According to the Speaker, the move against him is connected to political calculations ahead of the 2027 General Elections. He claimed that some Lawmakers became unhappy after failing to secure return tickets and were also dissatisfied over issues relating to his continued leadership of the Assembly.
However, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information and Assembly spokesman, Hon. Olatunji Fabiyi, rejected the Speaker’s explanation. He maintained that the Lawmakers’ actions were based strictly on accountability and proper governance.
Fabiyi alleged that the Speaker approved matters relating to the reordering of the OSOPADEC budget without obtaining the approval of the House, describing the action as a violation of legislative procedures.
He stressed that the Lawmakers have not changed their position and remain committed to removing the Speaker from office.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, alongside leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has continued efforts to resolve the dispute. Despite the intervention, the Lawmakers behind the impeachment insist they have completely lost confidence in the Speaker’s leadership.