Ondo Assembly halts plenary until speaker resigns over ₦44m

A majority of lawmakers in the Ondo State House of Assembly have suspended all legislative activities, declaring they will not resume plenary sessions until Speaker Olamide Oladiji resigns or is removed from office. The deepening leadership crisis, which escalated on Monday, July 27, 2026, stems from allegations of financial misconduct involving 44 million naira linked to the Ondo State Oil-Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC).

According to Olatunji Fabiyi, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, 21 of the Assembly's 26 members have signed an impeachment notice against the Speaker. The lawmakers accuse Oladiji of unilaterally handling the reordering of the OSOPADEC budget and allegedly diverting funds connected to the process. Fabiyi stated that a resolution concerning the budget reordering was written and presented as the collective decision of the House without the knowledge or approval of the members, an action he described as a criminal offense.

The standoff has effectively paralyzed the state legislature. Fabiyi, speaking on behalf of the aggrieved lawmakers, said their position is clear: there will be no plenary until a new speaker is in place. He...