Following the announcement by the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Mr. Olamide Oladiji, endorsing Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s governorship bid on behalf of the assembly, several House members have distanced themselves from the endorsement.
In a statement signed by 13 members of the Assembly and released on Wednesday, the lawmakers expressed their lack of confidence in the speaker’s decision.
Governor Aiyedatiwa declared his intention to contest the upcoming governorship election in November during an event in Akure on Tuesday. In his speech, Speaker Oladiji assured the governor of the assembly members’ support in securing the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and winning the main election.
However, dissenting members of the Assembly objected to the speaker’s declaration, stating that the parliament had not officially endorsed any governorship aspirant yet. They described the speaker’s statement as embarrassing and disappointing.
The lawmakers emphasized that the speaker lacked the moral and legal authority to pledge support for any governorship aspirant on behalf of the House without the explicit consent of its members. They denounced the speaker’s actions as misrepresentation and brought a vote of no confidence against him.
The statement was signed by prominent members including Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi (Majority Leader), Moyinolorun Taiwo Ogunwumiju (Parliamentary Secretary), Oluwarotimi Fasonu (Chief Whip), Olajide Oguntodu (Minority Leader), Raymond Daodu (Deputy Minority Leader), and others.
In conclusion, the lawmakers called for a retraction of the speaker’s endorsement and expressed their dissatisfaction with his leadership, passing a vote of no confidence in him.
