Some members of the Ondo State House of Assembly have distanced themselves from the public endorsement of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s gubernatorial ambition by the Speaker of the Assembly, Olamide Oladiji.
The lawmakers, 13 of them, stated that the Speaker acted on his own and not for the Assembly.
According to the lawmakers, who described the action of Oladiji as unparliamentary, said the Speaker never consulted them before using the Assembly to rally support for the governor.
Oladiji had on Tuesday, during the official declaration of Aiyedatiwa to run for governor, rallied support for the governor, stressing that the 26 lawmakers were in support of his aspiration.
Infuriated by the development, the lawmakers, in a statement, passed a vote of no confidence on the Speaker, accusing him of disrespecting the independence and integrity of the Assembly.
The statement was signed by Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, Majority Leader; Olajide Johnson Oguntodu, Minority Leader; Raymond Daodu, Deputy Minority Leader; Oluwarotimi Babatunde Fasonu, Chief Whip; Moyin Olorun Taiwo Ogunwumiju; and Akinsuroju Akindolani Nelson.
Others are Akomolafe Temitope, Ifabiyi Samuel Olatunji, Agbulu Tope Akeem, Christopher Odunayo Ayebusiwa, Atinuke Morenike Witherspoon, Biola John Oladapo, and Afe Felix.
They maintained that it was disappointing that the Speaker would publicly endorse an 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.”
Ondo lawmakers pass vote of no confidence on Speaker for endorsing Aiyedatiwa.
