Tag Archives: Ondo Assembly

BREAKING: Ondo Assembly Elects Bamidele Oloyelogun As New Speaker

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Bamidele David Oloyelogun, the lawmaker representing Ifedore Constituency on Monday morning emerged the new Speaker of the crisis-ridden Ondo state House of Assembly, SaharaReporters can authoritatively report.

Mr. Oloyelogun became the new speaker of the Assembly with nine votes after beating Olamide George from Akure North Constituency ‘I’ who polled four votes during an election described by critics as shady.

Thirteen rebel lawmakers who suspended former female Speaker, Jumoke Akindele, from the Ondo State House of Assembly conducted the election of Mr. Oloyelogun,

SaharaReporters correspondent reported that Mr. Oloyelogun, who is presently a two-term member of the parliament, was favored by in the voting after the acting speaker, Malachi Coker, voluntarily stepped down from the seat in an apparently acting on a script.

During the election, Ogundeji Iroju, from Odigbo Constituency also emerged as the new Deputy Speaker, unopposed.

Mr. Ogundeji was the former spokesman of the rebel lawmakers opposed to Mrs. Akindele style of leadership in the Assembly.

Meanwhile, factional lawmakers loyal to the formal Speaker, Jumoke Akindele, has said they have not been carried along in the election conducted in the hallowed chamber of the Assembly today.

The faction explained that they didn’t boycott the election of the House of Assembly as currently being insinuated by the rebel faction, they claimed that they were not notified of any sitting scheduled for Monday.

Siji Akindiose, the spokesman for the faction, disclosed this in a terse message obtained by SaharaReporters.

“No notification was sent to us that there would be a sitting today and the House does not usually sit on Mondays and Fridays, which are reserved for committee activities,” he said.

Akindiose further disclosed that the factional lawmakers had on Sunday held a meeting with a senior aide to the governor on Legislative Matters, Abdusalam Taofeek to resolve the lingering crisis in the House.

He revealed that the faction loyal to Mrs. Akindele was surprised by the announcement of a new speaker this morning (Monday) without being carried along in the election.

 

Source: Sahara Reporters

BREAKING: Ondo Assembly speaker, Jumoke Akindele, resigns.

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The embattled Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Jumoke Akindele, has given up her struggle to keep her seat by forwarding a letter resigning as Speaker of the House.

The deputy speaker, Fatai Olotu; the Majority Leader, Ifedayo Akinsoyinu; Deputy Majority Leader, Obadiah Vincent; Whip, Adesanya Kemisola, and Parliamentary Secretary, Towase Kuti, also resigned their portfolios.

The resignation of the principal officers was contained in a single letter addressed to the Clerk of the House and dated March 20.

A copy of the letter was submitted to the governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

“We the undersigned hereby resign our positions as principal officers of this august house.

“Our resignation has become imperative in the face of the new geopolitical configuration of the state so that peace which is the hallmark of any administration will continue to reign in the land.

“Moreover, we are desirous of moving the state forward for the benefit of our people.

“We thank the members of management and staff of the assembly for the opportunity given to us to serve.”

The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Segun Ajiboye, confirmed that the letter was officially received on Monday morning.

He said the governor would study the letter before initiating any further steps in the resolution of the crisis.

It was gathered that a faction of the lawmakers led by Malachi Coker, who controversially removed Ms. Akindele, is also expected to drop its ambition to pave way for the election of a new leadership.

However, Mr. Coker, led his group in a plenary on Monday, and insisted that the impeachment of Ms. Akindele and other principal officers remained unchanged.

Crisis began in January after 13 of the state’s 26 lawmakers announced the impeachment of the speaker after accusing her and her principal officers of a N15million fraud.

Monday’s resignation is believed to be part of the agreement reached with Mr. Akeredolu to end the crisis.

 

Source: Premium Times

Protesters storm Ondo assembly as Mimiko presents last budget.

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Some aggrieved residents of Ondo state stormed the state house of assembly on Wednesday ahead of the budget presentation by Olusegun Mimiko, the outgoing governor.

 

This would be the last time that Mimiko will perform the function, as he will be bowing out on February 24.

 

Wielding placards and chanting anti-government songs, the protesters are calling on Mimiko to pay the outstanding seven months’ salaries of civil servants before leaving office.

 

Security has been beefed up in strategic locations within the complex, while entry routes have been blocked.

 

The assembly is currently embroiled in leadership crisis. Jumoke Akindele, the first female speaker, was impeached last week, over allegations of fraud.

 

Akindele has since denied the allegations.

 

As of the time of filing this report, 18 of the 26 lawmakers in the assembly, had arrived at plenary awaiting the proceedings of the day.

 

Source: The Cable

N15m Fraud Scandal: Ondo Assembly Suspends Impeached Speaker

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Mrs. Jumoke Akindele, who, last week, was impeached as Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, has been suspended by the House indefinitely.

Mrs. Akindele, who represents Okitipupa Constituency, was suspended along with her Deputy Speaker, Mr. Fatai Olotu and Majority Leader, Mr. Ifedayo Akinsoyinu,  at about 5 pm on Friday.

Sources told SaharaReporters that 12 House members sat and announced the suspension.

One of the members, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, explained that eight members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the five members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) signed the letter suspending Mrs. Akindele, the former Deputy Speaker and former Majority Leader.

The source confirmed to our correspondent that Mrs. Akindele was accused of attempting to steal N15million belonging to the House.

Paymaster ferrying cash worth N15m to Mrs. Akindele’s residence “The discussion during the sitting was that the paymaster of the Assembly was caught by some members with the sum of N15million at Assembly Complex.

“When confronted, the paymaster said Mrs. Akindele asked him to bring the money to her private residence. None of the other members was aware that the money was withdrawn from the account of the House. This made members suspend Mrs. Akindele and two principal officers,” the source said. Paymaster ferrying stash of cash allegedly stolen by Mrs. Akindele

The House has since announced Mr. Malachi Coker of Ilaje Constituency as the acting Speaker pending its investigation into the alleged fraud.

“After the announcement of Coker, lawmakers quickly adjourned the sitting of the House,” a source added.

The House also announced and inaugurated Mr. Ayodeji Arowele (Owo Constituency) as Deputy Speaker, and Mr. Olamide George (Akure North Constituency) as Majority Leader.

As at the time of filling this report, the Police have stationed an armoured vehicle at the Assembly Complex entrance.

Ondo Assembly Serves Impeachment Notice On Deputy Governor, Ali Olanusi

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The Ondo State House of Assembly on Tuesday served an impeachment notice on the state Deputy Governor, Ali Olanusi. The Assembly, in the notices signed by 20 out of its 26 members accused the deputy governor of alleged gross misconduct.

Some of the allegations levelled against him include financial misappropriation, absenteeism from official duties and causing disaffection in the state cabinet.

The Majority Leader, Ifedayo Akinsoyinu, representing Ondo West Constituency 2, moved the motion, which was seconded by Yinka Banso, representing Akoko North West Constituency.

The Speaker, Jumoke Akindele, presided over the sitting. The House said its action was in consonance with the 1999 Constitution. The Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Kunle Olujuigbe, said the process would be transparent.

Mr. Olanusi had two days before the March 28 presidential election defected to the All Progressives Congress from the Peoples Democratic Party. He, alongside his boss, Governor Segun Mimiko, had left the Labour Party, on which platform they were elected, for the PDP.

Only last week, apparently due to his defection to the APC, Mr. Olanusi was assaulted by suspected thugs who tried to stop him from entering the Government House.

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