The Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, is facing potential impeachment after publicly endorsing the re-election bid of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa without the consent of the House.
During Aiyedatiwa’s declaration to seek re-election, Oladiji stated, “18 members of the Ondo State House of Assembly have agreed to support Aiyedatiwa. Even those who are not in the APC are with us in this struggle, and by the grace of God, we will arrive at the promised land.”
However, in a swift rebuke, 13 out of the 26 lawmakers issued a statement on Wednesday disassociating themselves from Oladiji’s purported endorsement.
The signatories included the Majority Leader, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, Chief Whip Oluwarotimi Babatunde Fasonu, Minority Leader Olajide Johnson Oguntodu, and Deputy Minority Leader Raymond Daodu, among others.
The lawmakers categorically stated that the House had not passed any resolution to endorse Aiyedatiwa or any other gubernatorial candidate, as required by democratic principles and due process.
They condemned Oladiji’s declaration as “untrue, misleading, unparliamentary, and ridiculous,” arguing that he lacked the moral and legal authority to pledge support for any aspirant without the explicit consent of members.
The statement reads: “The Ondo State House of Assembly wishes to categorically state that it has not passed any resolution to endorse the incumbent Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, as purportedly announced by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji.
“The House of Assembly operates on democratic principles, and would formally take a collective decision, follow due process and the relevant laws governing the State where it wishes to take any decision regarding the endorsement of a gubernatorial candidate.
“As Honourable members of the 10th Ondo State House of Assembly, we were shocked and disappointed to hear the public declaration made by the Honourable Speaker of the House, Rt Hon. Olamide Oladiji, to the extent that the Ondo State House of Assembly has agreed to support the governorship ambition of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa”
They stated further, “We, therefore, wish to inform the good people of Ondo State at home and in the diaspora that: at no point did the Ondo State House of Assembly deliberate the governorship ambition of any of the numerous aspirants that have indicated their interests to contest for the State’s 2024 Governorship Election, let alone agree to support any particular aspirant.
“Mr. Speaker lacks the moral and legal authorities to speak or pledge support for any governorship aspirant on behalf of the House without the explicit consent of members.
“Mr. Speaker has, by his unconventional and false public declaration, misrepresented the honourable House, and in so doing, brought the 10th Ondo State House of Assembly into disrepute, needless controversies and breached our confidence in his leadership.
“Consequently, we hereby pass a vote of no-confidence in the leadership of the Speaker, Rt Hon Olamide Oladiji.
“The House of Assembly however reaffirms its commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that all decisions taken are transparent enough and are in the best interest of the people of Ondo State”