Ondo assembly crisis takes a twist as ‘impeached’ deputy speaker takes legal action

The deputy speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Iroju Ogundeji, has dragged the speaker of the House, Bamidele Oleyelogun, and other members to the state high court over his purported impeachment.

Mr Ogundeji, in the suit seen by TIMELY POST, wants the court to denounce the assembly’s action, and further affirm him as the deputy speaker.

This newspaper, on November 24, reported that amidst bitter politicking, the state assembly voted to impeach Mr Ogundeji for alleged “gross misconduct”.

The speaker of the House, Mr Oleyelogun, said 20 lawmakers signed the impeachment proceedings and that it required 18 to form two-thirds of the house.

Following his removal, Mr Ogundeji was immediately replaced by another lawmaker, Samuel Aderoboye.

In the same vein, the assembly reconstituted its principal offices, by removing another suspended lawmaker, Tomide Akinribido, of the ZLP, as the minority leader and replaced him with Festus Akingbaso.

The impeachment came amidst effort by four suspended lawmakers including the deputy speaker, Mr Ogundeji, to secure their reinstatement after serving a controversial suspension for about six months.

It was reported that the lawmakers were indefinitely suspended for opposing the impeachment plans of the deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi, who left the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) before the October 10 governorship election.

Following their suspension, they embattled lawmakers sued the assembly before a state high court in Akure and the judge who presided over the matter, Ademola Bola, ordered the reinstatement of the four lawmakers.