By Aliyu Oyewole
The Ondo State House of Assembly has resolved not to hold plenary sessions until its Speaker, Olamide Oladiji, resigns over allegations of diverting ₦44 million released by the Ondo State Oil-Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC).
The development follows an impeachment move against the Speaker after 21 of the 26 lawmakers reportedly signed a notice seeking his removal over allegations of financial mismanagement.
The lawmakers accused Oladiji of failing to carry members along in the disbursement of the funds, which were reportedly released for the reordering of the OSOPADEC 2026 budget.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Akure, the spokesperson of the Assembly, Olatunji Ifabiyi, said members had unanimously 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.
“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, a principal officer of the Assembly, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the Ondo State Government convened a peace meeting with lawmakers on Sunday in a bid to resolve the crisis.
According to the official, an agreement was reached during the meeting, although he declined to reveal whether the resolution favoured the Speaker or the aggrieved lawmakers.
“There was a peace broker yesterday (Sunday) with the executive and we are not permitted to disclose details of the outcome of the meeting,” the source said.
“I don’t want to be the first to breach the agreement. But I can tell you that the matter has been resolved. We employed internal mechanisms to address the agitations in the House of Assembly, and we are going to hold a plenary soon.”
Despite the claim, Assembly spokesperson Ifabiyi said he was unaware of any peace meeting and maintained that lawmakers would not resume plenary until there was a change in leadership.
He also confirmed that an allegation of an assassination attempt on one of the lawmakers had been reported to the relevant security authorities for investigation.
The leadership crisis has heightened political tension within the Ondo State House of Assembly, with lawmakers insisting that the Speaker must vacate office or face impeachment proceedings.
