By Ireti Asemota.
Akure – In a dramatic showdown that’s split the Ondo State House of Assembly down the middle, Speaker Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji has shrugged off an impeachment push from 12 disgruntled colleagues, branding their gripes as “personal beefs” unrelated to state progress. Just a day after the rebels fired their shot with a vote of no confidence over alleged N50 million graft, a solid bloc of 14 lawmakers fired back with a resounding vote of confidence, slamming the door on the ouster bid.
Speaking to reporters in Akure on Saturday, November 15, Oladiji—flanked by heavy hitters like Deputy Speaker Olalade Gbegudu, Finance Committee Chair Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, and Ilaje-II rep Fayemi-Obayelu Olawumi—painted the plot as a “misplaced priority” cooked up by lawmakers who’ve ghosted plenary sessions.
“These honourable members that have passed a vote of no confidence on me… have not been coming to the House for their legislative assignments,” Oladiji fired. “As I’m talking to you now, the majority of them are outside the country… They’re tying their personal demands from His Excellency [Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa] to our core work—like reordering the 2025 budget.”
He vowed zero distractions from politics ahead of 2027:
“We’re not worried. The Assembly will keep delivering its constitutional duties—supporting the governor to bring real dividends to Ondo people.”
The N50m Bombshell: “I Don’t Touch the Cash!”
At the heart of the rebel roar? Claims Oladiji siphoned N50 million earmarked for public hearings and botched monthly operational grants. Not so fast, says the Speaker:
“I don’t deal with or handle the funds of the Assembly. Everything’s run by the Rules and Standing Orders—transparent as glass.”
The pro-Oladiji crew echoed the vibe in their resolution:
“The alleged claim of misappropriation… was borne out of malice bereft of facts.”
They hailed his leadership as “transparent” and in lockstep with Aiyedatiwa’s “EASE government,” promising more wins for the people.
The Rebel Roster vs. The Loyal 14: Who’s Who in the Split?
Ondo’s 26-seat Assembly is a house divided. The 12 plotting impeachment (who signed their no-confidence notice on November 13) include:
- Jide Oguntodu
- Temitope Akomolafe
- Fatai Atere
- Toyin Japhet
- Raymond Daodu
- Samuel Ifabiyi
- Babatunde Fasonu
- Princess Oluwatosin Ogunlowo
- Afe Felix
- Nelson Akinsuroju
- Prince Akinruntan Abayomi
- Stephen Abitogun
On the flip: The 14 who sealed Oladiji’s armor with their confidence vote, invoking Section 92(2)(c) of the 1999 Constitution:
| Lawmaker | Constituency |
|---|---|
| Rt. Hon. Gbegudu Ololade James | Okitipupa II |
| Hon. (Chief) Oshati Olatunji Emmanuel | Ose |
| Hon. Suleiman Murtala | Akoko South-East |
| Hon. Ogunwumiju MoyinOlorun Taiwo | Ondo West I |
| Hon. (Primate) Allen Messiah Oluwatoyin | Ese-Odo |
| Hon. Oluwole Emmanuel Ogunmolasuyi | Owo I |
| Hon. (Princess) Fayemi-Obayelu Olawumi | Ilaje II |
| Hon. Oladapo John Biola | Ondo West II |
| Hon. (Prophetess) Witherspoon Atinuke M. | Owo II |
| Hon. (Dr.) Ogunlana Christopher | Irele |
| Hon. Ayebusiwa Odunayo Chris | Okitipupa I |
| Hon. Ologede Kolawole Micheal | Akure North |
| Hon. Agbulu Tope Akeem | Akoko South-West II |
(Note: One seat’s unaccounted for in public tallies—likely neutral or absent.)
The Real Spark? Budget Drama and Aiyedatiwa’s Shadow
Dig deeper, and the feud smells like budget blues. Rebels walked out last week over Governor Aiyedatiwa’s N531.7 billion supplementary budget—a whopper just months after signing the N698 billion “Budget of Recovery,” with only 22% implemented so far. They slammed it as “hasty” and fiscal folly, tying Oladiji to the rush.
Oladiji flipped the script: The plotters are “anti-Aiyedatiwa” holdouts mad at unmet “requests” from the executive, not his ledger. With the governor’s “backing,” the loyalists plowed ahead on reordering the main budget for donor shortfalls.
Opposition PDP piled on, blasting the supplementary as “reckless.” As X buzzes with #OndoAssembly takes— from “Dead on arrival” cheers to “EFCC probe now!” calls—the house stays standing. For now.
Oladiji’s mic drop? “If we want requests met, do it maturely—not by sabotaging government.” Ondo watches: Will the rebels return from “abroad” to legislate, or is this the prelude to 2027 fireworks?
#OndoAssemblyCrisis #OladijiSpeaks #VoteOfConfidence #AiyedatiwaBudget #NaijaPolitics #ImpeachmentPlot #AkureDrama #OndoState #APCInternalBeef #EFCCWatch
