Lawmakers in the Ondo State House of Assembly have suspended all plenary sessions and are demanding the immediate resignation of Speaker Olamide Oladiji over allegations that he diverted N44 million from the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), according to TheCable.
TheCable reports that the assembly members have declared they will not hold any further plenary until Oladiji steps down. The lawmakers accuse the speaker of involvement in the misappropriation of funds meant for the commission, which oversees development in oil-producing communities in the state.
The crisis escalated after a separate report by Sahara Reporters alleged that Oladiji also altered the OSOPADEC budget by N9.2 billion. In response, OSOPADEC has denied any role in the dispute, Punch Newspapers reported, as a deadline for the speaker’s resignation expired. Vanguard News added that 21 assembly members have accused Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of shielding Oladiji and frustrating efforts to remove him from office.
The standoff has effectively paralyzed legislative business in Ondo State, with no clear resolution in sight. The next development to watch is whether Governor Aiyedatiwa will intervene or whether the lawmakers will pursue formal impeachment proceedings.
