Intrigues in Ondo Assembly over deputy governor’s impeachment

Akeredolu

Dissenting lawmakers raise suspension alarm
A few months to the governorship election in Ondo State, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is polarised against itself due to ongoing schemes to impeach the deputy governor, Mr. Agboola Ajayi. There have been mixed reactions trailing the in-house fighting among the 26 members of the 9th Assembly, with 23 APC, two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and one Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) lawmakers.

Ajayi, whose rosy political relationship with Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu started plummeting after the last general elections, ditched APC for PDP to contest the October 10, 2020 governorship poll in the state.

Surprisingly, the House of Assembly, on Monday, resumed from a recess it embarked on sometime ago due to COVID-19 pandemic, for a plenary session the next day and sent notice of impeachment on the deputy governor.

Fourteen lawmakers, who the deputy governor allegedly accused of receiving N10 million for his impeachment, appended their signatures to the process while three others remained neutral. Ajayi was alleged to have committed seven-count charges bordering on gross misconduct, abuse of office, and attempt to plunge the state into a reenactment of 1983 ‘Wetie’ saga.

The APC State Executive Council (SEC) had petitioned the legislative arm to impeach the deputy governor for abandoning a joint ticket of the party with Governor Akeredolu for PDP. The notice read in parts that “Actions on Sunday, June 21, 2020 likely to cause breach of peace in reference to 1983 political crisis with the intent to incite the citizens against government of Ondo State in a video clip at Government House ground before the Commissioner of Police, Ondo State.

“Petition from All Progressives Congress (APC) Ondo Chapter on his alleged movement to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) having sworn in as the deputy governor on the party’s ticket with Mr. Governor for a 4-year term.”

But nine members of the Assembly, in a letter received by the Clerk of the House, Mr. Bode Adeyelu, dissociated themselves from the impeachment process, claiming their action was based on personal conviction. The nine lawmakers are the Deputy Speaker, Ogundeji, the Majority Leader, Jamiu Maito, Rasheed Elegbeleye, Tomide Akinribido, Samuel Ademola, Favour Semilore, Festus Akingbaso, Williams Adekunle, and Tohr Success.

The lawmakers, in the letter, said they were bringing to the notice of Mr. Speaker, Rt, Hon Bamidele David Oleyelogun, the entire Honourable members of Ondo State House of Assembly and the general public that they do not support the impeachment process and would not want to be associated with it based on personal convictions.

Without mincing words, the Speaker, Oleyelogun, declared that the Constitution empowers the Assembly to investigate allegations and proceed on impeachment of Ajayi in accordance with constitutional requirements. Consequently, he directed the Assembly’s clerk to serve the embattled deputy governor notice of impeachment that signed by 14 members of the Assembly.

While resuming for the adjourned plenary on Wednesday, the House played a smart card against the lawmakers loyal to Ajayi, at a parliamentary meeting, by suspending the deputy speaker and two others. The House claimed that the trio: Ogundeji, Williams and Tomomewo violated the standard rule of the Assembly, while the Majority Leader, Maito, representing Akoko North West, resigned his office.