The Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, is under increasing pressure to vacate office after a majority of lawmakers reportedly gave him until Sunday to resign or face impeachment over allegations of financial misconduct.
The ultimatum follows claims that funds linked to the reordering of the Ondo State Oil-Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) budget were improperly managed.
Earlier reports indicated that the controversy had sparked moves by lawmakers to remove the Speaker from office.
Sources within the Assembly said no fewer than 21 of the 26 lawmakers had signed an impeachment notice against Oladiji, giving the move the required majority support.
Confirming the development, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Olatunji Fabiyi, said members had already agreed that the Speaker should no longer remain in office.
He explained that before taking formal steps, lawmakers decided to brief Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to ensure the process would not be perceived as being influenced by external interests.
According to Fabiyi, the meeting with the governor was intended to make it clear that the lawmakers’ decision stemmed from internal concerns within the Assembly rather than political interference.
“We have resolved that Mr Speaker should go. But in the wisdom of the leadership of the House, we felt we should meet with Mr Governor,” he said.
“And we have taken the resolution of the members to Mr Governor. Because the one we did before, they were castigating us, saying somebody was sponsoring us.”
He added, “So, to avoid that, the leadership of the House went to Mr Governor to tell him that this one is not about him. This is what Mr Speaker has done, and we don’t want him anymore. He is the one leading us, and we don’t want him to lead us again.”
Fabiyi disclosed that 21 lawmakers had already endorsed the impeachment notice, insisting that the Speaker had lost the confidence of the majority of members.
“Twenty-one members have signed for his removal. But in the wisdom of the leadership of the House, not to make it appear as if we are striking too quickly, we went to Mr Governor,” Fabiyi stated.
He said Governor Aiyedatiwa requested time to review the matter but emphasised that the disagreement remained an internal affair between the lawmakers and the Speaker.
Fabiyi further alleged that the dispute centred on the handling of the OSOPADEC budget, accusing the Speaker of presenting a resolution in the name of lawmakers without their approval.
“On this issue, we don’t have any problem with Mr Governor. It is about the OSOPADEC budget. A resolution was written in the name of members without our knowledge. It was stated that members had sat down and agreed to it, and that it was our resolution, which it was not.”
“It is a criminal offence. You cannot shave our heads behind our backs. That is what we are fighting for,” he said.
The lawmaker warned that members would proceed with impeachment if the Speaker failed to step down before the deadline.
“So, if somebody is protecting him, it means that person is aiding and abetting him. We are giving him till Sunday. If he fails to resign, we will remove him,” he declared.
The fresh ultimatum comes days after allegations surfaced accusing the Speaker and his deputy of diverting N44 million reportedly allocated for the reordering of the OSOPADEC budget.
An unnamed member of the Assembly alleged that the budget adjustments were carried out without the knowledge or approval of the majority of lawmakers.
The lawmaker also said impeachment proceedings had already begun, adding that members were only offering the Speaker an opportunity to resign before formal action was taken.
“Yes, we are removing him. We just want him to resign honourably and, if he fails to do so, we will impeach him on the floor of the House. We have initiated an impeachment notice, and 21 members have already signed,” the lawmaker said.
“We started the process about three weeks ago, but the governor has been talking to us, which is why we delayed it. But now, the governor has advised him to resign when we met with him. So, we are removing him.”
Despite the mounting calls for his removal, Speaker Oladiji has denied all allegations of misconduct and dismissed reports suggesting that impeachment proceedings are underway.
Responding to the claims, the Speaker said he was unaware of any impeachment notice and maintained that the accusations against him were without merit.
