The political atmosphere in Ondo State turned tense on Friday as the State House of Assembly witnessed a significant escalation of its ongoing crisis. Lawmakers took the dramatic step of passing a vote of no confidence on the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji.
Impeachment Proceedings and Allegations
This development signals the beginning of impeachment proceedings against the Speaker. A coalition of 12 out of the 26 lawmakers formally accused Speaker Oladiji of gross misconduct. The lawmakers, in a signed impeachment notice, made serious allegations and called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately commence an investigation. They demanded the prosecution of the Speaker and the recovery of all misappropriated public funds that they allege occurred under his watch.
The Root of the Crisis: Budget Dispute and Financial Claims
The current turmoil began a few days ago when lawmakers staged a walkout. This protest was against Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa's N531 billion supplementary budget. The legislators accused Speaker Oladiji of attempting to push the bill through in a hasty manner. They argued this was inappropriate given the poor performance of the 2025 budget, with less than two months remaining in the fiscal year.
The specific financial accusations against the Speaker are severe. The lawmakers claim he diverted the sum of N50 million that was originally appropriated for the conduct of a public hearing. Additionally, they allege the misappropriation of the House's monthly operational grants.
Constitutional and Legal Grounds for the Action
The lawmakers have grounded their actions in specific legal and constitutional provisions. They stated that the Speaker's acts contravened the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), specifically citing the prohibition of abuse of office by a public officer and the violation of the Oath of Office and Oath of Allegiance.
Furthermore, they referenced the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 regarding abuse of office, and the Criminal Code Act concerning stealing by a person in public service. The legislators asserted that these infractions amount to gross misconduct as defined by the constitution and have gravely impaired the institutional integrity and lawful operations of the House.
The lawmakers who signed the impeachment notice are:
- 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)
In reaction to these events, an aide to the Speaker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, dismissed the impeachment threat. The aide described it as "a political storm in a teacup" and confidently stated that it is dead on arrival.
