Ondo Assembly Crisis: Lawmakers Stand Firm on Speaker's Removal Despite Governor's Efforts

Members of the Ondo State House of Assembly pushing to remove Speaker Olamide Oladiji have turned down peace efforts from Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. They insist they want a new leader for the assembly.

Olatunji Fabiyi, the assembly’s spokesperson, told reporters on Monday that Governor Aiyedatiwa has been trying to convince lawmakers to drop their impeachment plans. The lawmakers say this issue is clearly within their rights as a legislature.

Reports show that 21 out of 26 members of the state assembly have signed an impeachment notice against Oladiji. This indicates that his removal is likely if the process continues.

The Speaker is accused of altering the budget of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) for his own benefit, leading to a loss of ₦44 million. Oladiji has denied these accusations, calling them false and politically motivated. The lawmakers who are unhappy have given him an ultimatum to resign, warning they will force him out if he does not step down.

Even though Governor Aiyedatiwa has not spoken publicly about the issue, lawmakers believe he is trying to delay the impeachment.

"I think the governor is speaking to some members, asking them to withdraw from the impeachment," Fabiyi said. "This is strictly a matter for the House; it’s not something for the executive to handle."

Fabiyi questioned the governor’s involvement, saying the executive should not interfere in what the assembly is doing.

"If there is no hidden agenda, I don’t see why the governor should protect a Speaker. If there is a hidden agenda, he should tell the public now," he added.

Fabiyi stressed that the lawmakers have made their position clear to the governor. They want a change in leadership, not a fight with him.

"We have told the governor that we are not against him. We just don’t want our current leadership. There is no reason for someone to stay in power when we no longer want them," he said.

He also explained the timeline of events: "At first, we thought the governor asked for seven days, but it turns out he wanted 14 days. Those 14 days end next Sunday."

Fabiyi reaffirmed that the lawmakers are serious about removing the Speaker.

Ebenezer Adeniyan, Chief Press Secretary to Aiyedatiwa, denied that the governor is involved in the assembly crisis.

"The governor is not part of what is going on in the House of Assembly, and he hasn't stopped members from doing their jobs," Adeniyan said. "The governor wants peace, law, and order. He is not blocking lawmakers from carrying out their duties."

Meanwhile, OSOPADEC’s leadership has said it is not a part of the crisis.

In a statement from Godson Ewata, the Director of Media and Corporate Affairs, the commission warned against ongoing attempts to drag OSOPADEC into the matter.

Ewata stated that the commission is not involved in the assembly's internal issues or decisions.

"All dealings between the commission and the Ondo State House of Assembly are done following constitutional rules and obligations," he said. "Decisions made by the assembly are solely their responsibility."

He expressed worry about ongoing misinformation spreading through various channels that try to link the commission to the crisis. Ewata warned that any further attempts to connect the commission to issues outside its legal responsibilities would be seen as a deliberate effort to mislead the public and damage the commission's reputation.