A group of Ondo State House of Assembly members have publicly rejected the endorsement of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s bid for governorship by the Assembly’s Speaker, Olamide Oladiji.
The 13 dissenting lawmakers have clarified that Oladiji’s endorsement was a personal action and not representative of the Assembly’s collective decision.
The legislators criticized Oladiji’s move as unparliamentary, highlighting that there was no consultation with them prior to his public support for the governor.
They expressed their discontent with the Speaker’s claim that all 26 members were in favor of Aiyedatiwa’s candidacy.
In response to what they viewed as a breach of the Assembly’s independence and integrity, the lawmakers issued a vote of no confidence against the Speaker.
The statement, undersigned by key Assembly members including Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, Olajide Johnson Oguntodu, and Raymond Daodu among others, conveyed their disappointment in the Speaker’s unilateral endorsement of a political aspirant.
“As honourable members of the 10th Ondo State House of Assembly, we were shocked and disappointed to hear the public declaration made by the Honourable Speaker of the House, Olamide Oladiji, to the extent that the Ondo State House of Assembly has agreed to support the governorship ambition of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.
“At no point did the Ondo State House of Assembly deliberate the governorship ambition or any of the numerous aspirants that have indicated their interests in contesting the state’s 2024 governorship election, let alone agree to support any particular aspirant.
“Mr. Speaker lacks the moral and legal authority to speak or pledge support for any governorship aspirant on behalf of the House without the explicit consent of members.”
