By Our Reporter
A fresh crisis has erupted in the Ondo State House of Assembly as 12 lawmakers have initiated impeachment proceedings against the Speaker, Olamide Oladiji, over allegations of gross misconduct and financial impropriety.
The impeachment notice, reportedly endorsed by the lawmakers, accuses the Speaker of diverting ₦50 million allotted for a public hearing and mismanaging operational grants actions they say contravene the 1999 Constitution and the ICPC Act.
The development deepens the already strained relationship between the legislature and the executive, following Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s recent request for a ₦531 billion supplementary budget.
The proposal has sparked widespread criticism within the Assembly, with several lawmakers questioning the justification for such a large request given the poor performance of the current fiscal plan, where many projects have achieved less than 35 per cent execution.
Tensions escalated during a parliamentary session on November 4, 2025, when lawmakers walked out in protest, accusing the executive of fiscal indiscipline and faulting the leadership of the House.
The division has since widened, with competing votes of confidence and no-confidence intensifying the political standoff.
In his reaction, Oladiji dismissed the impeachment attempt as a “misplaced priority,” insisting that those pushing for his removal are motivated by personal grievances and political alignment rather than genuine concerns about governance.
He argued that the majority of members remain supportive of the governor’s administration and accused some of the dissenting lawmakers of absenteeism, alleging that several reside outside the country.
The crisis has also spilled into the public arena, where residents have expressed outrage over the scale of the proposed supplementary budget.
Citizens have criticised the government’s financial management, questioning the rationale for seeking additional funds when key components of the 2025 Appropriation Law remain largely under-implemented.
Public sentiment reflects growing frustration over perceived opacity in government spending. Many residents say previous administrations provided more transparent financial reports, including detailed disclosures on revenue, expenditure, and project costs, which strengthened public trust.
The current administration’s approach, they argue, has fuelled scepticism amid deepening political tensions.
As the House of Assembly grapples with internal divisions and impeachment threats, calls for accountability, fiscal discipline, and transparent governance continue to dominate public discourse in Ondo State.
