“Ondo Assembly Shuts Down Plenary Until Speaker Oladiji Resigns” — 21 Lawmakers Back Removal Over Alleged ₦44m OSOPADEC Funds

The crisis rocking the Ondo State House of Assembly has deepened, with lawmakers insisting that plenary will not resume until the Speaker, Olamide Oladiji, resigns over allegations of financial misconduct involving ₦44 million linked to the Ondo State Oil-Producing Areas Development Commission.

The lawmakers had earlier issued Oladiji an ultimatum to resign voluntarily or face impeachment, accusing him of unilaterally handling the reordering of the OSOPADEC budget and allegedly diverting funds connected with the process.

Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Olatunji Fabiyi, said 21 of the Assembly’s 26 members had signed an impeachment notice against the Speaker and remained committed to effecting a change in the leadership of the House.

Fabiyi said the lawmakers had resolved not to participate in any plenary sitting under Oladiji’s leadership, maintaining that legislative activities would remain suspended until the leadership crisis was resolved.

“We have resolved not to hold plenary until there is a change of Speaker. For now, there is no development except that Mr Speaker should give way and allow another person to preside over the Ondo State House of Assembly,” he said.

According to him, the lawmakers had taken their grievances and resolution to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, but he dismissed suggestions that the move against the Speaker was being sponsored by the executive arm of government.

Fabiyi maintained that the dispute was an internal legislative matter arising from the Speaker’s alleged handling of the OSOPADEC budget and the purported preparation of a House resolution without the knowledge or approval of other lawmakers.

He alleged that a resolution concerning the reordering of the OSOPADEC budget was written in the names of the lawmakers and presented as their collective decision, even though they had neither considered nor approved it.

The lawmaker described the alleged action as a criminal offence, insisting that members would not permit decisions to be taken in their names without their consent.

According to Fabiyi, the lawmakers initially allowed Oladiji additional time to resign following the intervention of Governor Aiyedatiwa, but would proceed with impeachment if he continued to reject their demand.

“If he does not resign, we will impeach him. If he fails to do the needful, we will do the needful,” he said.

The crisis had earlier intensified after a female member of the Assembly, Olawumi Fayemi-Obayelu, who represents Ilaje Constituency II, alleged that she had received threats over her involvement in the investigation of the alleged diversion of funds.

Fayemi-Obayelu accused the Speaker of attempting to intimidate and silence her over her investigation into the alleged mishandling of funds intended for the development of riverine communities in Ilaje Local Government Area.

She maintained that threats and intimidation would not stop her from demanding accountability over the management of funds belonging to the oil-producing communities.

Oladiji, however, rejected the allegations against him, describing them as sensationalised, malicious and entirely fabricated.

The Speaker also denied knowledge of any valid impeachment notice or leadership crisis within the Assembly and challenged those accusing him of financial misconduct or involvement in threats against Fayemi-Obayelu to produce evidence.

The continuing standoff has paralysed legislative activities in the state, with the majority of lawmakers insisting that they will not return to plenary until Oladiji resigns or is removed from office.