The Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, has described the move by 21 lawmakers seeking his removal over allegations of financial misconduct involving about N44 million as nothing but political calculations ahead of the 2027 elections.

He alleged that the lawmakers do not want him to come back as Speaker in 2027, noting that they have been making these complaints over the past three years.

The lawmakers had accused the Speaker of approving a House resolution on the OSOPADEC budget reordering without the Assembly’s approval and of presiding over infrequent legislative sittings.

They alleged that only four plenary sessions had been held in the past seven months, a situation they said had retartded legislative activities.

The lawmakers have vowed not to resume plenary until the Speaker steps down, despite several meetings with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state to resolve the crisis.

However, the Speaker says he is confident that the dispute would soon be resolved, stating that the matter was being handled through internal party mechanisms.

Quoting him: “We have the leader of the party in the APC, and they are trying to intervene. We have a way of settling our issues.”

“We have been attending a series of meetings and, by the grace of God, in another one week, it will become a thing of the past.”

Meanwhile, Chairman of the House Committee on Information and the Spokesperson of the House, Hon. Olatunji Ifabiyi, rejected the Speaker’s claim that the crisis was about the 2027 elections.

Ifabiyi maintained that the lawmakers’ grievances were based on allegations of misconduct and abuse of office.

According to him: “He claimed some of us did not get return tickets, but we have been observing his actions for a long time.”

“The issue is not about tickets. The question is whether the Speaker should unilaterally issue a resolution claiming the House approved the OSOPADEC budget reordering without the Assembly’s approval.” Ifabiyi explained.

He insisted that the aggrieved lawmakers have resolved that the Speaker must resign or be impeached, noting that anyone supporting him is an accomplice. (Channels)