Twist In Ondo Politics: Lawmakers Halt Speaker’s Impeachment Process

The Ondo State House of Assembly has suspended further action on the planned impeachment of Speaker Olamide Oladiji, pending guidance from the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Speaker has been under pressure from members of the Assembly over allegations of financial misconduct and dissatisfaction with his style of leadership.

Reports indicate that 21 of the 26 lawmakers had endorsed an impeachment notice and earlier gave Oladiji a deadline to resign. However, the deadline expired without the impeachment process moving forward.

Addressing journalists at the Assembly complex on Wednesday, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Olatunji Ifabiyi, explained that the lawmakers had not abandoned the process but were awaiting the party’s intervention before taking any further steps.

According to him, the Assembly cannot proceed until the APC leadership provides direction on the matter, describing the impeachment move as temporarily suspended rather than cancelled.

Ifabiyi noted that the ruling party’s involvement was expected since all 26 members of the House were elected on the APC platform. He described the dispute as an internal party issue that required the attention of party leaders to ensure an amicable resolution.

He, however, urged the APC leadership to remain impartial, warning against taking sides in the dispute. He maintained that the majority of lawmakers remained committed to changing the current leadership of the Assembly and expected the party to handle the matter fairly.

The lawmaker also clarified that while the executive arm of government has no constitutional authority over the legislature’s internal affairs, the APC has the responsibility to mediate as the political platform that brought all members into office.

On the activities of the Assembly, Ifabiyi said lawmakers reconvened following public concerns over the prolonged suspension of plenary sittings.

He assured residents that despite the leadership crisis, the Assembly remained committed to carrying out its constitutional responsibilities.

According to him, the House has since passed several resolutions on key developmental issues affecting the state and has also set up an audit committee to review its financial and administrative records and make recommendations where necessary.