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

The lawmakers are accusing the Speaker of financial impropriety in relation to about N44 million allegedly connected with the reordering of the budget of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC).

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

According to her, the latest development indicates that the Speaker has lost the confidence of the overwhelming majority of members.

Fayemi-Obayelu said the lawmakers had refrained from making public comments in deference to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s intervention, which provided a two-week window for reconciliation.

She, however, noted that the peace window expires on Sunday and maintained that the lawmakers remained committed to pursuing the Speaker’s removal.

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

She urged the Speaker to resign in the interest of the Assembly and to preserve his reputation.

In response, Oladiji denied any wrongdoing, describing the impeachment move as politically motivated.

The Speaker said the plot against him was linked to political calculations ahead of the 2027 elections rather than allegations of financial misconduct.

According to him, some of the aggrieved lawmakers were dissatisfied after failing to secure return tickets, adding that they were also unhappy over alleged support for his continued leadership of the Assembly.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the House Committee on Information and Assembly spokesman, Hon. Olatunji Fabiyi, rejected the Speaker’s claims, insisting that the impeachment move was based on issues of governance and accountability.

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

He maintained that the lawmakers’ position on the Speaker’s removal remained unchanged.

Governor Aiyedatiwa and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have intervened in the dispute in an effort to resolve the crisis, but the aggrieved lawmakers insist they have lost confidence in the Speaker’s leadership. (Saturday Vanguard)

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