A fresh political crisis has emerged in the Ondo State House of Assembly as a majority of lawmakers move to remove Speaker Olamide Oladiji from office over allegations of financial misconduct.

Twenty-one of the Assembly’s 26 lawmakers have reportedly signed an impeachment notice against the Speaker, giving him an ultimatum to resign voluntarily or face removal during plenary proceedings. The lawmakers, who constitute more than the constitutionally required two-thirds majority, said they are prepared to proceed with impeachment if he refuses to step aside.

The dispute is linked to allegations surrounding the management of ₦44 million connected to the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC). The lawmakers alleged that the funds, which were meant for legislative activities, were not handled transparently. They also raised concerns over the reordering of the OSOPADEC budget, claiming the exercise was carried out without the approval of the majority of Assembly members.

According to reports, several attempts were made to resolve the matter internally before the lawmakers decided to commence impeachment proceedings. However, those efforts reportedly failed to produce an agreement, prompting the majority of members to push ahead with the process.

One of the lawmakers, speaking on the situation, said the Speaker had been given an opportunity to leave office peacefully.

“We just want him to resign honourably and, if he fails to do so, we will impeach him on the floor of the House,” the lawmaker said.

Despite the growing pressure, Speaker Oladiji has rejected the allegations and dismissed reports suggesting he is planning to resign.

In a statement issued by his office, the Speaker described the reports as false and politically motivated. He maintained that there was no leadership crisis within the Ondo State House of Assembly and insisted that the allegations lacked factual basis.

The statement further argued that claims surrounding the alleged ₦44 million OSOPADEC funds had been misrepresented and were intended to create unnecessary political tension. According to the Speaker’s office, stories suggesting he had agreed to resign were fabricated by individuals seeking to destabilise the Assembly.

The unfolding development has intensified political activities within the state’s legislature, with attention now focused on whether the Speaker will step down before the expiration of the ultimatum or allow the impeachment process to continue.

If the lawmakers proceed with their plan, the Ondo State House of Assembly could witness a major leadership change, as the number of lawmakers backing the impeachment appears to exceed the constitutional threshold required to remove a Speaker from office.

Political observers say the situation highlights growing divisions within the legislature and could have wider implications for governance in the state. Allegations involving public funds and legislative accountability often attract significant public attention, making the outcome of the dispute an issue of interest to both political stakeholders and residents.

As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official indication that Speaker Oladiji intends to resign, while the Assembly has yet to announce any formal timetable for impeachment proceedings.

The coming days are expected to determine whether dialogue will resolve the crisis or whether lawmakers will move forward with the impeachment process during a plenary session.