Deep divisions emerged within the Ondo State House of Assembly following the Speaker’s endorsement of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s re-election bid.
On Wednesday, Speaker Olamide Oladiji publicly declared the Assembly’s support for Aiyedatiwa’s candidacy in the upcoming November elections. He declared “We have about 18 members of the Ondo State House of Assembly here with Governor Aiyedatiwa. The Ondo House is for Aiyedatiwa, even those who are not APC, they are in the same struggle with us. My advice to our leaders across the 18 local governments is, go back to your local governments and do the needful. Let the reconciliation continue; come April 24 ( primary), we will deliver for Honourable Aiyedatiwa. On behalf of the honorable members of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Mr Governor, congratulations in advance.” This move significantly upset a large portion of the House.
Thirteen members, including the House Majority Leader, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, strongly condemned the Speaker’s actions. They emphasized that the Speaker lacked the authority to speak for the entire Assembly on such a crucial matter and His endorsement misrepresented the House and created unnecessary controversy.
Ogunmolasuyi stated, “The Speaker acted outside his bounds. His unilateral declaration does not reflect the position of the Assembly, and we vehemently oppose this attempt to misrepresent the House.”
As a consequence of the Speaker’s actions, these lawmakers issued a formal vote of no confidence in his leadership. This unprecedented move highlights the deep divisions within the Assembly.
This incident comes amidst past attempts by the House to impeach Aiyedatiwa during his term as Deputy Governor. The current situation further strains the relationship between the Governor and a sizeable portion of the Assembly.
The future ramifications of this event are unclear. The possibility of the Speaker facing an official challenge or a resolution seeking to retract the endorsement cannot be ruled out.
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