Twenty-one out of 26 members of the Ondo State House of Assembly have issued an ultimatum to Speaker Olamide Oladiji, demanding his resignation by Sunday, July 26, or face impeachment proceedings over allegations of financial misconduct and fraud. The lawmakers have already signed an impeachment notice, clearing the two-thirds majority required under the constitution to remove the speaker.
Details of the Allegations
The crisis stems from the handling of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) budget reordering. According to Olatunji Fabiyi, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, a resolution was drafted in the names of House members without their knowledge or consent, falsely presenting it as a collective agreement. Fabiyi stated, '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.'
Additionally, lawmaker Olawumi Fayemi-Obayelu, representing Ilaje Constituency II, accused the speaker of collecting N44 million from OSOPADEC on behalf of members but failing to distribute the funds. She alleged that her life was threatened after she pressed for an investigation into the speaker's handling of the money, which was meant for riverine communities in Ilaje Local Government Area.
Speaker Denies Allegations
Speaker Oladiji has flatly rejected all accusations. In a statement from his office on Tuesday, he said he had no intention to resign and denied any knowledge of an impeachment process or internal crisis. The statement described the reports as 'a total figment of the imagination of its authors' and claimed they were sponsored by political detractors. It further dismissed Fayemi-Obayelu's claims as 'sensational, malicious, and entirely fabricated.'
The speaker's office stated, 'We state unequivocally, without an atom of ambiguity, that Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji never contemplated resigning, nor is there any leadership crisis within the 10th Ondo State House of Assembly.'
Political Implications
Fabiyi also addressed claims that the push to remove the speaker was driven by the executive branch. He said the House leadership had only briefed Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as a courtesy. The governor appealed for more time to resolve the matter internally, but the lawmakers remain firm in their demand. If Oladiji fails to resign by Sunday, the impeachment process will proceed at the next plenary session.
The development has drawn significant attention in Ondo State, with many residents calling for accountability and transparency in the legislature. Legit.ng could not independently verify the claims made by either side at the time of filing this report.
Background on the Crisis
Earlier reports indicated that the speaker collected N44 million from OSOPADEC on behalf of members without distributing the funds. This has sparked outrage among lawmakers and the public. The crisis adds to ongoing political tensions in Ondo State, including recent revelations by Governor Aiyedatiwa that security operatives foiled a plot to bomb the Government House in Akure.
