Oladiji Impeachment: Ondo Lawmakers Say ‘No Going Back’ After Assembly Disruption

Lawmakers pushing for the removal of Ondo State House of Assembly Speaker Olamide Oladiji have insisted that their impeachment plan remains active despite the disruption of their planned plenary session on Thursday.

The lawmakers had gathered at the Assembly complex for a parliamentary meeting linked to the impeachment effort.

However, the planned sitting on the floor of the House did not take place after three unknown men appeared at the complex.

The legislators alleged that the men were political thugs who had been sent to disrupt their activities.

Police officers from the Ondo State Command reportedly intervened and removed the men from the premises.

The lawmakers subsequently held a parliamentary meeting at the complex.

A member of the House who spoke anonymously said the meeting was strategic and centred on removing Oladiji.

The lawmaker maintained that the Speaker would still be removed.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Olatunji Fabiyi, also said the impeachment process remained on course.

The Assembly crisis began several weeks ago after 21 of its 26 members reportedly signed an impeachment notice against Oladiji.

The Speaker was accused of diverting N44m meant for the reordering of the budget of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission.

Oladiji has denied the allegation.

The impeachment move had been stalled following intervention by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the APC leadership.

Oladiji has also denied allegations that he sent political thugs to the Assembly.

He said the three men were his constituency youth leaders who had been invited to the complex to pick up recruitment forms.

According to the Speaker, the men were unaware of the developments within the Assembly.

Oladiji further said the matter had been resolved and that there was no longer an impeachment process.

The lawmakers, however, maintain that they have not abandoned their plan to remove him.