- Conflict erupts in Ondo State Assembly over Speaker’s endorsement of Governor Aiyedatiwa for re-election; 13 lawmakers oppose the move
- Speaker Oladiji claims 18 lawmakers support Aiyedatiwa’s re-election; 13 lawmakers refute endorsement, express no confidence in Speaker’s leadership
The public endorsement of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for re-election by Ondo State House of Assembly Speaker Olamide Oladiji has ignited a conflict among lawmakers, with 13 members opposing the move.
Tensions escalated after Oladiji proclaimed that 18 lawmakers had pledged their support for Aiyedatiwa’s bid for re-election during the governor’s declaration for the November 16 gubernatorial race.
At the declaration event on Tuesday, Oladiji assured the governor of the assembly’s backing, stating, “We have about 18 (out of 26) members of the Ondo State House of Assembly here with Governor Aiyedatiwa. The Ondo House is for Aiyedatiwa; even those who are not APC are in the same struggle with us.”
However, 13 lawmakers raised objections, asserting that the Assembly had not endorsed any aspirant in the governorship race.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, they denounced the speaker’s remarks as “embarrassing and disappointing.”
Among the lawmakers who signed the statement are Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi (Majority Leader), Moyinolorun Taiwo Ogunwumiju (Parliamentary Secretary), Oluwarotimi Fasonu (Chief Whip), Olajide Oguntodu (Minority Leader), Raymond Daodu (Deputy Minority Leader), and Akinsuroju Nelson.
The statement also included Akomolafe Temitope, Ifabiyi Olatunji, Agbulu Akeem, Christopher Ayebusiwa, Atinuke Witherspoon, Biola Oladapo, and Afe Felix.
Furthermore, the lawmakers expressed a vote of no confidence in Speaker Oladiji, alleging that he lacked the legal authority to pledge support for any aspirant without explicit consent from the members.
They criticized Oladiji’s public declaration, stating that it misrepresented the House and undermined their confidence in his leadership.
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