A mild drama ensued at the Ondo State House of Assembly as 14 out of 26 members of the House served impeachment notice on the deputy governor, Mr Agboola Ajayi, over allegations of gross misconduct.
The motion on the impeachment of the deputy governor was read during an emergency sitting of the House announced by the Clerk of the Assembly, Mr Bode Adeyelu.
Speaking at the plenary, the Speaker of the House, Bamidele Oleyelogun, disclosed that he personally received the allegations against Agboola Ajayi.
Oleyelogun said the Constitution empowers the Assembly to investigate all the allegations and proceed on impeachment of the deputy governor, if necessary.
The Speaker noted that the Assembly can only impeach the deputy governor if all the constitutional requirements were met.
He therefore ordered the House Clerk to immediately serve the embattled deputy governor a notice of impeachment signed by the 14 members of the Assembly.
However, the deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Iroju Ogundeji, as well as other eight lawmakers who later dissociate themselves from the impeachment notice were shouted down by the Speaker when attempting to contribute to the motion.
Oloyeloogun, however put the motion to a voice vote after which the majority leader, Hon. Jamiu Maito, moved a motion for adjournment till Wednesday July 8 which was seconded by Hon Oluyede Fayide, representing Ose Constituency.
Immediately after the sitting, nine members of the House of Assembly including the deputy speaker, Hon. Ogundeji, dissociated themselves from the impeachment move against the deputy governor.
Other members of the Assembly who repudiated the impeachment move include: Hon. Favour Tomomowo, Hon. Rasheed Olalekan Elegbeleye, Hon. Festus Akingbaso, Hon. Adewale Williams Adewinle, Hon. Samuel Demola Edmisan, Hon. Tomide Akinribido and Hon. Success Torhukerijor.
The members, in a letter addressed to the clerk of the Assembly titled, “Dissociation from the impeachment plan of the Deputy Governor”, said, “We the underlisted elected members of the Nineth Assembly session of the Ondo State House of Assembly hereby append our signatures to clarify that we have resolved not to partake in the impeachment process of the Deputy Governor.
“In view of the above, we hereby bring to the notice of Clerk, Mr Bode Adeyelu, the entire members of the House of Assembly and the general public that we do not support the impeachment process and we would not be associated with it based on personal conviction,” they said.
But chairman of the House Committee on Information, Hon Olugbenga Omole described the ranting from the protesting lawmakers as needless, stressing that the impeachment order is a process which does not require two third of members of the Assembly.
“In fact only 9 members of the 26 members are needed to sign the impeachment move,” Omole said.
He further explained that only few journalists were allowed into the Assembly chamber in keeping with COVID-19 guidelines.
All members of the Assembly were present except, Hon Favour Tomomewo, representing Ilaje Constituency 2, and the only female lawmaker in the Assembly.
The Assembly which comprises 26 members requires 18 members to successfully carry out the impeachment.
Also, security at the Assembly premises was tight as there was presence police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Present at the plenary were Special Adviser to the governor on Political Matters, Hon.Victor Olabimtan, the State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Engr. Ade Adetimehin among others.
Meanwhile, the deputy governor had on Monday approached the Federal High Court, Abuja for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights in a suit filed on his behalf by Dr I. Olatoke (SAN).
Ajayi was asking the Court to halt the impeachment proceedings and enforce his rights to freedom of association.