The Ondo State House of Assembly has suspended plenary activities as the leadership crisis rocking the legislature deepens, with lawmakers insisting that Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, must step down from office or face impeachment.
The decision was disclosed by the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Olatunji Ifabiyi.
He stated that members had resolved not to return to plenary until there is a change in the leadership of the Assembly.
The crisis, which has dominated political discussions in the state in recent days, is linked to allegations surrounding the reordering of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) budget valued at about N9.2 billion.
Speaking in Akure on Monday, Ifabiyi maintained that the majority of lawmakers were united in their position and had lost confidence in the Speaker.
According to him, members have agreed that legislative activities cannot continue under the current leadership.
“We have resolved not to hold a plenary until there is a change of Speaker.
“For now, there is no development except that Mr Speaker should just give way and allow another person to preside over the Ondo State House of Assembly.
“If he doesn’t resign, we will impeach him. If he fails to do the needful, we will do the needful,” he said.
Recall, the Assembly has been in controversy following accusations that the Speaker acted unilaterally in matters relating to the OSOPADEC budget without the knowledge and approval of fellow lawmakers.
At least 21 lawmakers in the 26-member Assembly are said to have endorsed a resolution demanding his resignation. The number is above the constitutional threshold required to initiate impeachment proceedings.
Despite the mounting pressure, there has been no official indication that the Speaker intends to resign.
The Assembly spokesman also dismissed reports suggesting that the crisis had already been resolved through political intervention.
He said he was not aware of any agreement reached during a meeting allegedly held between lawmakers and officials of the state executive arm of government on Sunday.
According to him, the position of lawmakers remains unchanged.
The lawmaker further addressed concerns over allegations of an assassination plot involving a member of the Assembly, noting that the matter had been reported to relevant security agencies for investigation.
He expressed confidence that authorities would uncover the facts surrounding the allegation.
However, a principal officer of the Assembly, who spoke anonymously, offered a different perspective on the situation.
The lawmaker confirmed that discussions had taken place between members of the House and representatives of the executive arm in an effort to restore calm.
According to the source, a peace meeting was held on Sunday and progress was made towards resolving the dispute.
“There was a peace broker yesterday (Sunday) with the executive and we are not permitted to disclose details of the outcome of the meeting.
“I don’t want to be the first to breach the agreement. But I can tell you that the matter has been resolved but I will not tell you if it was in the favour of anybody.
“We will implore for an internal mechanism on the agitations in the House of the Assembly, and we are going to hold a plenary soon,” the source said.
In a related development, Politics Nigeria earlier reported today that the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, has dismissed reports suggesting he was considering resignation amid the impeachment threats hanging over his office.
Reacting to growing speculation surrounding his future, the Speaker described claims of an impending resignation as false and politically motivated.
In a statement issued by his office, Oladiji insisted that there was no leadership crisis in the Assembly and maintained that allegations against him lacked substance.
“The attention of the Office of the Speaker, Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, has been drawn to a sensationalized, malicious, and entirely fabricated report, alleging an ongoing leadership crisis, an impending impeachment threat, and a contemplated resignation over an alleged N44 million OSOPADEC fund,” the statement read.Nigerian economic news
The Speaker further declared:
“We state unequivocally, without an atom of ambiguity, that Rt. Honourable Olamide Oladiji never contemplated resigning, nor is there any leadership crisis within the 10th Ondo State House of Assembly.”
He also rejected allegations of financial misconduct connected to OSOPADEC funds and accused unnamed individuals of attempting to create confusion within the legislature.
“The report is a total figment of the imagination of its authors and their nameless, cowardly sources,” the statement added.
Oladiji argued that no valid impeachment process had been concluded against him and maintained that the Assembly remained stable.