The leadership of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Olatunji Oshati, has dispelled insinuations of uneasy calm in the house, stressing that the purported impeachment plan against the Speaker, Olamide Oladiji, is a rumour that should be discarded.

Olatunji denied knowledge of any impeachment move of Oladiji, disclosing that it was never a topic of discussion at either the plenary sittings or any of the House parliamentary meetings.

He assured the people of the state of the House’s commitment to people-centred legislation that must ensure the general interest of our people.

Oshati, who is the House leader, maintained that democracy would be regarded as healthy when we sometimes disagree to agree.

He said, “However, the reason for the disagreement should always be reasonable. The House would use her conflict resolution machinery to resolve whatever may have caused this.”

The Assembly had been enmeshed in crisis following the passage of a vote of no confidence on the Speaker, with the development signalling impeachment proceedings against him, as 12 of the 26 lawmakers accused Oladiji of gross misconduct.

The lawmakers, who signed the impeachment notice, called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for immediate investigation, prosecution, and recovery of all misappropriated public funds under the watch of Oladiji.

The crisis began in the Assembly a few days ago after the lawmakers staged a walkout in protest over Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s N531 billion supplementary budget, accusing Oladiji of attempting to push the bill through hastily amid poor performance of the 2025 budget despite less than two months to the end of the fiscal year.

The lawmakers who signed the impeachment notice include Jide Oguntodu (Akure South 1), Temitope Akomolafe (Ifedore), Fatai Atere (Akoko North/West 1), Toyin Japhet (Akoko North East), Raymond Daodu (Akoko South West 1) and Samuel Ifabiyi (Odigbo 1).

Others include Babatunde Fasonu (Odigbo 2), Oluwatosin Ogunlowo (Idanre), Afe Felix (Akoko North/West 2), Nelson Akinsuroju (Ile Oluji/Oke-Igbo), Akinruntan Abayomi (Ilaje 1), and Stephen Abitogun (Akure South 2).

According to the lawmakers, the acts by the Speaker contravened paragraph 9, Part I, Fifth Schedule, Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), prohibition of abuse of office by a public officer, as well as the Seventh Schedule, Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), violation of the Oath of Office and Oath of Allegiance.