Ondo Lawmakers Break Into Factions As Aggrieved Members Reverse Speaker's Impeachment

 Ondo State House of Assembly Committee on Information has claimed that it has reversed the impeachment of Speaker Jumoke Akindele and Deputy Fatai Olotu. The aggrieved lawmakers immediately appointed Iroju Ogundeji from Odigbo Constituency, and Ago Arowole from Owo Constituency to succeed the Akindele and Fatai as the new Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively.

The Committee on Information Chairman, Olumide George, announced the reversal on Wednesday in Akure, the State capital.

Mr. George addressed journalists at the Cocoa Conference Hall in the government house in Akure, saying that the issue that occurred in the House was an "internal affair" and would be treated accordingly.

He claimed that the members of the House remained united and are living up to their constitutional responsibilities.

Mr. George was among the eighteen lawmakers who signed the letter impeaching the speaker and her deputy at a secret location in Akure.

Government said that Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko had been mounting pressure and pleading members of the Assembly to rescind their decision on the impeachment.

Despite Mr. George’s insistence that the House remains united, the decision to reverse the impeachment has caused a rift between House members.

In a statement addressed to journalists signed by All Progressives Congress (APC) Publicity Secretary Omo'ba Abayomi Adesanya, APC House members accused the lawmakers of being "cowards and stooges.”

In his statement, Mr. Adesanya lambasted the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) legislators for their impunity and advised the people of their constituencies to recall them.

"We hereby call on our people to recall this set of lawmakers, as they have failed us by acting as puppets to the governor rather than focusing on their primary assignment, which is to make laws and oversee the activities of the executives,” Mr. Adesanya said.

He affirmed that the State Assembly members have encouraged corruption under the administration of Governor Mimiko and have failed to protect the overall interest of the people in the State.

On Tuesday, eighteen out of the twenty-six members of the House had agreed to impeach the speaker and deputy over allegations of recklessness and highhandedness.

A statement on the crisis in the Ondo legislature, signed by Mr. George, can be read below: