Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Ondo State Oil-Producing Areas Development Commission has firmly denied any involvement in the leadership crisis rocking the Ondo State House of Assembly, even as the resignation deadline given to the embattled Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, expired on Sunday without his resignation and lawmakers vowed to proceed with impeachment. The crisis erupted after 21 out of 26 members of the House signed an impeachment notice against the Speaker, accusing him of financial misconduct and the alleged diversion of N44 million meant for the reordering of the OSOPADEC budget .
The lawmakers had given the Speaker until Sunday to resign or face impeachment on the floor of the House in their next sitting . Speaking with journalists, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Olatunji Fabiyi, said the legislators were determined to remove the Speaker over his handling of the OSOPADEC funds. "We have resolved that the Speaker should go," Fabiyi stated, adding that 21 members had signed the impeachment notice . According to Fabiyi, the Speaker had reordered the OSOPADEC budget without the knowledge or consent of other lawmakers, a move he described as a criminal offence. "It is a criminal offense. You cannot shave our heads behind our backs. That is what we are fighting for," he said .
A lawmaker who spoke on condition of anonymity alleged that the Speaker and his deputy diverted the N44 million meant for the reordering of the OSOPADEC budget . The lawmaker also claimed that the Speaker reordered the budget without carrying other members of the House along. "We started the process about three weeks ago, but the governor had been engaging us, which is why we delayed it. The governor also advised him to resign when we met with him. So, we are removing him," the lawmaker said .
Despite the deadline expiring on Sunday, there was no indication that the Speaker had resigned. It was gathered that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa had met with some of the lawmakers, appealing to them to reverse their decision, but the legislators remained adamant . The governor had reportedly requested more time to resolve the matter, but the lawmakers insisted on proceeding with the impeachment process .
Reacting to the crisis, OSOPADEC, through its Director of Media and Corporate Affairs, Godson Ewata, issued a strong denial of any involvement in the Assembly's internal affairs . The commission said all interactions between it and the House were conducted strictly within the framework of constitutional provisions and statutory obligations, and that decisions taken by the legislature remained solely the responsibility of the Assembly . "OSOPADEC has absolutely no role in the internal affairs of the Ondo State House of Assembly," the commission stated, warning that it would no longer tolerate falsehood, blackmail, character assassination, and malicious propaganda targeted at the institution .
The commission also cautioned against the use of its name to advance political interests or lend credibility to any agenda . Ewata warned that the publication or dissemination of false, defamatory, or fabricated information could attract legal consequences, adding that the commission would henceforth pursue all lawful legal remedies available to protect its institutional integrity . OSOPADEC urged parties involved in the Assembly dispute to seek redress through appropriate constitutional and legal channels without involving the commission in matters unrelated to its statutory functions .
The crisis is not the first for Speaker Oladiji, who survived an impeachment attempt in November 2025 over a separate N50 million dispute . This time, however, the stakes appear higher, with 21 lawmakers solidly behind his removal. Adding a grave note to the episode, lawmaker Olawumi Fayemi-Obayelu, who represents Ilaje Constituency II, one of OSOPADEC's intended beneficiary areas, alleges she has received threats to her life after raising questions about the missing funds . As the Assembly prepares for its next sitting, the fate of Speaker Olamide Oladiji hangs in the balance, with the embattled Speaker denying all allegations and insisting he had not contemplated resigning.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments