Speaker Olamide Oladiji is facing mounting pressure as the Ondo State House of Assembly says it will not resume plenary until he resigns over the controversy surrounding the OSOPADEC 2025 budget.
AKURE — The Ondo State House of Assembly has declared that it will not resume plenary until its Speaker, Olamide Oladiji, resigns, as the leadership crisis rocking the legislature continues to deepen.
The Assembly’s spokesperson, Mr Olatunji Ifabiyi, made the position known in an interview with journalists on Monday in Akure, insisting that the majority of lawmakers support the Speaker’s removal.
The crisis stems from allegations that the Speaker unilaterally reordered the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) 2025 budget valued at ₦9.2 billion without the approval of the Assembly.
According to reports, 21 of the 26 lawmakers have signed a resolution indicating their readiness to impeach the Speaker if he refuses to step down.
Ifabiyi said the Assembly had resolved not to conduct legislative business until a new Speaker emerges.
“We have resolved not to hold plenary until there is a change of Speaker.
“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 said.
The Assembly spokesperson did not indicate when lawmakers would reconvene but noted that he was unaware of any meeting reportedly held on Sunday between members of the legislature and the state executive to resolve the impasse.
He also disclosed that allegations of an assassination plot involving a member of the Assembly had been reported to the appropriate security authorities for investigation.
However, a principal officer of the Assembly, who spoke anonymously, said the Ondo State executive had intervened in the dispute.
According to the lawmaker, a peace meeting was held on Sunday, but participants agreed not to disclose details of the discussions.
He expressed optimism that the crisis had been resolved through internal mechanisms, although he declined to state whether the outcome favoured any of the parties involved.
The official added that the Assembly is expected to resume plenary soon, suggesting that efforts to restore stability within the legislature are ongoing.
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