Ondo State Assembly Lawmakers Move Against Speaker, Begin Impeachment Process

Members of the Ondo State House of Assembly have initiated impeachment proceedings against Speaker Olamide Oladiji, citing alleged gross misconduct.

Twelve of the Assembly’s 26 lawmakers, who signed the impeachment notice, also called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate, prosecute, and recover public funds they claim were misappropriated under Oladiji’s watch.

The crisis escalated following a recent walkout by lawmakers protesting Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s N531 billion supplementary budget. Lawmakers accused Oladiji of attempting to fast-track the bill despite concerns over the 2025 budget’s poor performance.

Those who signed the impeachment notice include Jide Oguntodu (Akure South 1), Temitope Akomolafe (Ifedore), Fatai Atere (Akoko North/West 1), Toyin Japhet (Akoko North East), Raymond Daodu (Akoko South West 1), Samuel Ifabiyi (Odigbo 1), Babatunde Fasonu (Odigbo 2), Oluwatosin Ogunlowo (Idanre), Afe Felix (Akoko North/West 2), Nelson Akinsuroju (Ile Oluji/Oke-Igbo), Akinruntan Abayomi (Ilaje 1), and Stephen Abitogun (Akure South 2).

The lawmakers accused Oladiji of diverting N50 million allocated for a public hearing and misappropriating the Assembly’s monthly operational grants. They argued that these actions violated the Constitution, including Paragraph 9, Part I, Fifth Schedule – prohibiting abuse of office – and the Seventh Schedule, concerning breaches of the Oath of Office and Oath of Allegiance.

Citing relevant laws, including the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and Section 390 of the Criminal Code Act, the lawmakers claimed the Speaker’s actions constitute gross misconduct under Section 188(11) of the Constitution and have “gravely impaired the institutional integrity and lawful operations of the House.”

In response, an aide to the Speaker, speaking anonymously, dismissed the impeachment move as “a political storm in a teacup,” insisting it is “dead on arrival.”