Olamide Oladiji , the embattled Ondo State House of Assembly Speaker, on Saturday denied the impeachment against him by a group of aggrieved lawmakers, describing the move as politically motivated and lacking in substance.
Recall that lawmakers last Thursday passed a vote of no confidence in the Speaker, accusing him of diverting N50 million and demanding his immediate removal.
But in a quick counter-response, 14 lawmakers loyal to Oladiji declared confidence in his leadership, urging the public to disregard what they called unfounded allegations of gross misconduct.
Oladiji, while speaking with newsmen on Saturday in Akure, the state capital, said the dissenting lawmakers lacked the capacity to destabilise the administration of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa or obstruct the amendment of the 2025 Appropriation Act.
The Speaker also alleged that the impeachment plot was tied to early political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections, insisting that he would not allow the Assembly’s constitutional duties to be held hostage.
“These honourable members who passed a vote of no confidence in me have not been coming for their legislative assignments. As I speak to you now, the majority of them are outside the country,” he said.
According to Oladiji, the lawmakers attempted to use the ongoing budget reordering process as leverage to compel Governor Aiyedatiwa to accede to their personal demands – an approach he described as reckless.
He disclosed that the 14 lawmakers who backed him were resolute in rejecting any attempt to “blackmail” the executive arm by tying legislative approval to private negotiations.
“What we did was not even a supplementary budget; it was a reordering. The 14 of us are strongly together, and we have the backing of His Excellency because what we are doing is not personal,” he added.
On the allegation of diverting N50 million, Oladiji dismissed the claim, maintaining that he does not directly handle the Assembly’s finances.
“I don’t deal with the house (assembly) money or account. I have been very transparent,” he said the speaker said, just he also reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to supporting Governor Aiyedatiwa in delivering democratic dividends to the people of the state.
