Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, claims the push by 21 legislators to remove him from office is driven by political positioning ahead of the 2027 elections. Oladiji spoke out on Wednesday following intense pressure for his resignation or impeachment, spurred by accusations of financial impropriety involving 44 million Naira related to the OSOPADEC budget.
Addressing the conflict, Oladiji suggested that his colleagues are acting out of fear regarding his potential re-election as Speaker in 2027. He questioned the timing of their grievances, noting that these complaints had not surfaced over the last three years. Currently, 21 out of 26 assembly members are demanding he step down, citing lack of transparency in budget processes and rare plenary sessions as primary reasons for their dissent. They claim that only four sessions have taken place in seven months.
While Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has stepped in to mediate, the lawmakers refuse to return to legislative duties until Oladiji is removed. The Speaker remains optimistic, stating that internal party discussions are underway to resolve the impasse within the week. Conversely, spokesperson Hon. Olatunji Fabiyi dismissed the claim that the dispute is about election tickets. Instead, Fabiyi emphasized that the lawmakers are united in their stance against what they describe as the Speaker’s unilateral abuse of power and unauthorized financial resolutions.
