Daud Olatunji
The Ondo State House of Assembly has suspended plenary indefinitely, insisting that Speaker Olamide Oladiji must resign over allegations that he diverted N44m released by the Ondo State Oil-Producing Areas Development Commission for the reordering of the agency’s 2026 budget.
The decision came amid an escalating leadership crisis in the Assembly, where 21 of the 26 lawmakers have reportedly signed an impeachment notice against the Speaker over alleged financial mismanagement.
The lawmakers accused Oladiji of failing to carry members along in the disbursement of the funds, a development that has deepened divisions within the legislature.
Speaking in Akure on Monday, the Assembly’s spokesperson, Olatunji Ifabiyi, said lawmakers had resolved not to reconvene for plenary until a new Speaker emerged.
“We have resolved not to hold plenary until there is a change of Speaker,” Ifabiyi said.
He maintained that the Speaker should step aside voluntarily to avert impeachment.
“For now, there is no development except that Mr Speaker should just give way and allow another person to preside over the Ondo State House of Assembly.
“If he doesn’t resign, we will impeach him. If he fails to do the needful, we will do the needful,” he added.
However, indications emerged that efforts were underway to resolve the impasse.
A principal officer of the Assembly, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the Ondo State Government convened a peace meeting with aggrieved lawmakers on Sunday.
According to the lawmaker, participants at the meeting agreed not to disclose details of the discussions.
“There was a peace meeting yesterday with the executive and we are not permitted to disclose details of the outcome,” the official said.
“I don’t want to be the first to breach the agreement. But I can tell you that the matter has been resolved, though I will not say in whose favour.
“We employed internal mechanisms to address the agitations in the House of Assembly, and we are going to hold a plenary soon.”
The claim, however, contradicted the position of the Assembly’s spokesperson, who said he was unaware of any reconciliation meeting and could not say when lawmakers would reconvene.
Ifabiyi also disclosed that allegations of an assassination attempt on a member of the Assembly had been reported to the appropriate security authorities for investigation.
The leadership crisis has heightened political tension within the Ondo State legislature, with uncertainty persisting over whether the Speaker will resign or face impeachment when the Assembly eventually reconvenes.
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