Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, has alleged that lawmakers who failed to secure the All Progressives Congress (APC) tickets for the 2027 elections are behind moves to impeach him.
Oladiji is facing mounting pressure to resign after some members of the Assembly accused him of allegedly mismanaging ₦44 million released by the Ondo State Oil-Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC).
Reports indicate that 21 of the 26 lawmakers signed an impeachment notice over allegations of financial mismanagement linked to funds reportedly meant for the reordering of the OSOPADEC 2026 budget.
The lawmakers also accused the speaker of failing to carry members along in the disbursement of the funds and vowed that no plenary session would hold until he either resigns or is removed from office.
Responding to the allegations on Wednesday, Oladiji dismissed the impeachment move as politically motivated, claiming it was driven by events surrounding the APC primary elections rather than any wrongdoing on his part.
“They don’t want me to come back as speaker in 2027. That is just the major issue,” he said.
According to him, some lawmakers fear he could return as speaker if he wins re-election, believing that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa still supports his leadership.
Oladiji questioned why the allegations surfaced only after the APC concluded its primary elections.
“We are all politicians. Have they been making these complaints over the past three years? Why now during the electioneering period?” he asked.
The speaker maintained that the Assembly had remained stable under his leadership and expressed confidence that ongoing reconciliation efforts by APC leaders and other stakeholders would resolve the crisis.
“We are distinguished colleagues, and we have a way of settling our issues. By the grace of God, in another one week it will become a thing of the past,” he added.
Lawmakers Reject Speaker’s Claims
However, Olatunji Fabiyi, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, dismissed the speaker’s claims, insisting that the impeachment move has nothing to do with the APC primaries or lawmakers who lost return tickets.
Fabiyi said the action was prompted by alleged misconduct, abuse of office and constitutional violations committed by the speaker.
He also alleged that Oladiji unilaterally issued a resolution approving the reordering of the state budget without the approval of the House.
“This is not about tickets. The speaker does not have the power to give anybody a ticket,” Fabiyi said.
The lawmaker further alleged that the speaker and his deputy sidelined other members and acted without legislative approval.
Fabiyi also dismissed Oladiji’s claim that external political forces were behind the crisis, alleging that the speaker had previously accused Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo of sponsoring the lawmakers opposing him.
Reaffirming the lawmakers’ position, Fabiyi insisted that they remain committed to removing the speaker.
“Our resolution still stands that Oladiji must go,” he declared.
Source: Statements by Olamide Oladiji and members of the Ondo State House of Assembly.
