The Ondo State House of Assembly yesterday suspended Deputy Speaker Iroju Ogundeji, for alleged gross misconduct. Majority Leader Jamiu Maito (Akoko Northwest) resigned his position.
Ogundeji represents Odigbo Constituency I.
Two other members – Adewale Adewinle (Ondo West 2) and Mrs Favour Tomomewo (Ilaje Constituency II) – were also suspended.
The letter of suspension was read by Mr Bode Adeyelu, the Clerk of the House, during plenary.
Speaker Bamidele Oleyelogun said the suspended members violated the Standing Rules of the house, adding that this could bring it into disrepute.
Oleyelogun, who directed the suspended members to submit all documents of the House in their possession, also advised them to stay away from the Assembly complex.
The suspension was put into voice vote but the sitting came to an abrupt end after a rowdy session.
Chairman, House Committee on Information Olugbenga Omole, said the Assembly resolved to suspend the three lawmakers at a parliamentary meeting after Tuesday’s sitting.
According to Omole, majority of the members passed the resolution.
But reacting to the suspension, Ogundeji accused Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and the state Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) Ade Adetimehin of being behind the suspension.
He said they were suspended because of their refusal to support the impeachment process against Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi.
Ogundeji claimed there was no allegation against them while the Speaker did not give them the opportunity to defend themselves.
He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene “so that the Legislature would not become an appendage of the Executive.”
Mrs. Tomomewo said due process was not followed before the suspension.
Speaking on his resignation, Maito explained that his action underlined his position as regards the supremacy of APC in the state.
Maito said he was committed to playing politics with conscience, adding that he could not support the impeachment move of the House against the deputy governor.
He added that he was giving honour to the ruling APC by his resignation.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lawmakers also sent a new commissioner-nominee, Mr Idowu Otetubi, to the House Selection Committee for scrutiny.
The Ondo State Elders Forum yesterday appealed to the Ondo State Chief Judge Justice Olarenwaju Akeredolu, to uphold the integrity of the Ondo State judiciary and its independence in the current move to impeach Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi.
It told the Chief Judge that now is the time that the people of Ondo State need her integrity.
In an open letter signed by Chief Tomi Koledoye, the Elders Forum said: “Your Lordship, the point here is that the impeachment process initiated by fourteen (14) members of the Ninth Session of the Ondo State House of Assembly on 7th July, 2020, is dead on arrival.
“This is because simultaneously, nine (9) members of the same Assembly jointly signed a resolution disassociating themselves from the whole process. The implication of the action of the nine parliamentarians is that the planned impeachment of the Deputy Governor cannot proceed beyond the signed notice of impeachment.”