Ondo Lawmakers Suspend Speaker’s Impeachment Awaiting APC Direction
Twenty-one of the 26 members of the Ondo State House of Assembly had signed an impeachment notice against Speaker Olamide Oladiji, giving him until Sunday, August 2 to resign. The deadline passed without any further action being taken.
Speaking to journalists at the Assembly complex, Olatunji Ifabiyi, chairman of the House Committee on Information, said the impeachment process had not been abandoned but was temporarily on hold while the lawmakers awaited direction from the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership.
Ifabiyi explained that, as all 26 legislators were elected on the APC platform, it is normal for the party to intervene in internal disputes. He likened the situation to a father calling his sons together to resolve a crisis.
He warned the party leadership not to shield the Speaker at the expense of the other members, noting that the majority of the Assembly remains determined to change the current leadership.
Although the executive arm of government has no constitutional role in legislative affairs, the APC, as the political platform of all lawmakers, bears the responsibility to mediate and bring the parties to a resolution.
Despite the leadership stalemate, the House has reconvened to address public concerns over the absence of plenary sittings. Since reconvening, the Assembly has passed resolutions on key developmental matters and has set up an audit committee to review its financial and administrative records.
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