The spokesperson for the Ondo State House of Assembly, Mr Olatunji Ifabiyi, says the Assembly won’t hold plenary until Speaker Olamide Oladiji steps down.
According to him, most lawmakers are in support of removing the Speaker.
Recall that the Assembly has been in crisis over calls for Oladiji’s resignation, arising from claim that he unilaterally tampered with the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) 2025 budget of N9.2 billion.
Twenty-one out of 26 lawmakers have already signed a resolution to impeach him if he refuses to resign.
“We’ve decided not to sit for plenary until there’s a change in leadership.
“For now, nothing has changed except that the Speaker should step aside and let someone else preside over the House.
“If he doesn’t resign, we’ll impeach him. If he doesn’t do the right thing, we’ll do what we have to do,” he said.
Ifabiyi didn’t say when the Assembly would resume sitting, and also said he wasn’t aware of any meeting with the state executive held on Sunday to try to settle the issue.
He also said the alleged assassination plot against a lawmaker had been reported to the relevant authorities for investigation.
However, a senior Assembly member who spoke anonymously said the state government had stepped in to calm things down.
“There was a peace meeting yesterday (Sunday) with the executive, but we’re not allowed to share details of what was agreed.
“I don’t want to be the first to break that agreement. But I can tell you the issue has been settled, though I can’t say in whose favour,” the source said.
