The Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, OlamideOladiji, has stated that the attempt by some aggrieved lawmakers to impeach himstems from their grievances with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. The embattled Speaker, who described the impeachment plot asa misplaced priority, said the Assembly cannot be frustrated or distracted fromamending and passing the reordered 2025 Appropriation Act. Oladiji’s position followed the backing he received from 14lawmakers in the state, who passed a vote of confidence in his leadership ofthe Assembly. Twelve of the 26 lawmakers had, a few days ago, passed avote of no confidence in the Speaker, accusing him of gross misconduct andmisappropriation of Assembly funds. A crisis broke out in the Assembly after the lawmakersstaged a walkout in protest against Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s N531 billionsupplementary budget, accusing Oladiji of attempting to hasten the passage ofthe bill despite the poor performance of the 2025 budget and less than twomonths remaining in the fiscal year. The Speaker, who was flanked by the Deputy Speaker, OlaladeGbegudu; the Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, OluwoleOgunmolasuyi; and Olawumi Fayemi-Obayelu (Ilaje 2), emphasised that failing toattend to the amendment — the position taken by the aggrieved legislators —would cripple the government of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa; hence, the Assemblymust act responsibly. Stressing that the Assembly under his watch will continue toperform its constitutional duties without needless politicking ahead of the2027 general elections, Oladiji added that he has been piloting the affairs ofthe Assembly in accordance with its rules and standing orders. “We have the opinion that if at all we have a request, or ifat all we have any demand from His Excellency or the executive, we should nottie it with our legislative assignments, which is the reordering or what wecall the supplementary budgets,” he said.
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