Impeachment of Ondo Speaker, Deputy reversed – Lawmakers

The Ondo State House of Assembly has reversed the Tuesday night impeachment of its first female Speaker, Rt (Hon). Jumoke Akindele and her deputy, Mr Fatai Olotu from office.
Chairman, House Committee on Information, Hon. Olamide George along with Hon. Siji Akindiose disclosed this on Wednesday while debunking the impeachment saga, noting that there was no impeachment crisis at the assembly.
Addressing journalists shortly after their plenary sitting, Hon George said members having met at an official gathering and review the situation have resolved to allow the status quo ante on the leadership to remain.
His words: “The House of Assembly remains united, cohesive and alive to its constitutional responsibilities, the issue of leadership of the House is an internal affairs and has been treated as such”.
On Wednesday there was heavy security agents mounting surveillance at the House of Assembly complex with Police officers, Officers of the Department of State Security, (DSS) and men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The presence of the security operatives in the Assembly complex, it was gathered was to prevent possible breakdown of law and order by members of the House of Assembly and other set of people.
Also, Police officers and other security agents in their security vans patrolled major areas and streets in Akure to avoid breakdown of law and order in the city.
Members of the House of Assembly and visitors to the Assembly complex including journalists were thoroughly searched by security operatives before being allowed into the premises of the House of Assembly.
It would be recalled that some members of the House numbering 18 had on Tuesday night at the private residence of one of them announced the impeachment of Mrs. Akindele and Mr Olotu as the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House respectively.
The impeachment was reportedly perfected at 10.30pm on Tuesday by the 18 Lawmakers who were said to be against the recent actions of Rt Hon. Akindele.
The lawmakers claimed to have impeached the Speaker and Deputy Speaker after gathering their signatures during a meeting held at a private residence of one of them in Alagbaka area of Akure.
The aggrieved lawmakers who alleged that the state government was owing them three months salaries and allowances, accused the Speaker of not fighting for their interest but defending the actions of the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, who they also alleged of insensitivity to their plights.
The allegation filed against the Speaker by other honourable members reads in part; “incompetence, high handedness, drunkenness, easy virtues, lack of focus, lack of transparency, arrogance and pure leadership”
Sources from the assembly said the 18 aggrieved lawmakers at their meeting elected Hon. Iroju Ogundeji representing Odigbo state constituency as the Speaker and Hon. Ayo Arowele representing Owo state constituency as the Deputy Speaker.