… Lawmakers await party directive on embattled Speaker’s fate

The Ondo State House of Assembly has constituted a four-man audit committee to examine the financial records of the legislative arm amid the move to impeach the Speaker, Olamide Oladiji.

The spokesperson of the Assembly, Olatunji Fabiyi, disclosed that committee was set up when lawmakers resumed plenary on Wednesday after weeks of inactivity.

According to him, the audit committee would scrutinize the Assembly’s financial dealings and make recommendations where necessary, amid allegations of financial impropriety rocking the House.

While insisting that the planned impeachment of the Speaker remains on course, Fabiyi stressed that the lawmakers are currently awaiting the outcome of intervention by the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership before taking the next step.

He said, “We are still waiting for the leadership of the party. We cannot proceed further until the party gives us direction, so the matter is pending.

“It is normal for the party to intervene because we are all members of the same family. The APC has total control of the Ondo State House of Assembly.

“Our father should call all his sons together to discuss whatever crisis has arisen so that it can be resolved. But our father will not prefer one person at the expense of the other 26 members.

He explained that while the executive has no role in the affairs of the legislature, the APC, being the platform on which all the 26 lawmakers were elected, has a responsibility to intervene and resolve the crisis.

“It is our party, and the fact remains that we want to change the kind of leadership we currently have. There is no opposition among us; we all belong to the same political party. Our father will not prefer one person at the expense of 26 members. Our father will not do that.”

On legislative activities, Olatunji said the Assembly reconvened in response to public concerns over the prolonged absence of plenary sittings, stressing that lawmakers remain committed to their constitutional responsibility.

He said the House passed resolutions on key developmental issues and also constituted an audit committee expected to examine the Assembly’s financial and administrative records and make recommendations where necessary.

Fabiyi said the lawmakers reconvened to fulfill their constitutional responsibility following public concerns over the prolonged absence of parliamentary sittings.

According to him, the House deliberated on issues affecting the state, including constituency projects, flooding, and other developmental challenges confronting communities across Ondo State.

He noted that lawmakers from riverine areas raised concerns over recurring flooding, prompting the Assembly to pass resolutions and call on relevant government agencies to take urgent action.

Olatunji disclosed that the House adjourned to reconvene in about two weeks and directed all standing committees to resume their regular sittings and oversight functions.