Ondo Assembly Leadership Denies Impeachment Plot Against Speaker
The leadership of Ondo State House of Assembly has firmly dismissed circulating rumors about plans to impeach Speaker Olamide Oladiji. House Leader Olatunji Oshati addressed the speculation, describing it as baseless and urging the public to disregard such claims.
In a statement released on November 14, 2025, Oshati emphasized that no impeachment discussion had taken place during any plenary sessions or parliamentary meetings. He assured residents of the state that the Assembly remains committed to delivering people-centered legislation that serves public interests.
Assembly Crisis and Lawmakers' Allegations
Despite the official denial, the Assembly has been experiencing significant turmoil following a vote of no confidence against Speaker Oladiji. The situation escalated when 12 of the 26 lawmakers accused Oladiji of gross misconduct and called for his impeachment.
The protesting legislators have formally requested the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate, prosecute, and recover all allegedly misappropriated public funds under Oladiji's watch. The crisis initially erupted when lawmakers staged a walkout protesting Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa's N531 billion supplementary budget.
The lawmakers accused Speaker Oladiji of attempting to rush the bill through despite poor performance of the 2025 budget, with less than two months remaining in the fiscal year.
Key Figures in the Impeachment Movement
The legislators who signed the impeachment notice include:
- Jide Oguntodu (Akure South 1)
- Temitope Akomolafe (Ifedore)
- Fatai Atere (Akoko North/West 1)
- Toyin Japhet (Akoko North East)
- Raymond Daodu (Akoko South West 1)
- Samuel Ifabiyi (Odigbo 1)
- Babatunde Fasonu (Odigbo 2)
- Oluwatosin Ogunlowo (Idanre)
- Afe Felix (Akoko North/West 2)
- Nelson Akinsuroju (Ile Oluji/Oke-Igbo)
- Akinruntan Abayomi (Ilaje 1)
- Stephen Abitogun (Akure South 2)
The lawmakers allege that the Speaker's actions violated paragraph 9, Part I, Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), which prohibits abuse of office by public officers. They also cite violations of the Seventh Schedule concerning Oath of Office and Oath of Allegiance.
House Leader Oshati acknowledged that disagreements are natural in a healthy democracy but stressed that "the reason for the disagreement should always be reasonable." He confirmed the Assembly would utilize its conflict resolution mechanisms to address any underlying issues causing the current tension.
