No plenary until Speaker resigns: Ondo Assembly

Mr. Olatunji Ifabiyi, the spokesperson for the Ondo State House of Assembly, is at the centre of a high-stakes drama playing out in Akure. With the Assembly in crisis over the unilateral reordering of the Ondo State Oil Producing Development Commission (OSOPADEC) 2025 budget of N9.2 billion, Ifabiyi's words carry significant weight. "We have resolved not to hold plenary until there is a change of speaker," he said, reiterating the majority's support for the Speaker's removal. For 21 out of 26 lawmakers, the Speaker's fate is sealed unless he resigns. The Assembly's fate, too, hangs in the balance.

The numbers tell a story of a deepening crisis. 21 out of 26 lawmakers have signed a resolution to impeach the Speaker if he fails to resign. This is a significant majority, one that suggests the Speaker is in a precarious position. The Ondo State House of Assembly has been at the centre of the crisis, with lawmakers refusing to hold plenary until the Speaker steps down. The Assembly's spokesperson, Mr. Ifabiyi, has been clear in his message: the Speaker must resign, or face impeachment. The numbers also reveal the extent of the crisis: N9.2 billion is a significant amount, one that has sparked heated debate among lawmakers. The unilateral reordering of the budget has been at the heart of the crisis, with lawmakers questioning the Speaker's authority to make such a move.

The Ondo State executive has intervened in the crisis, with a principal officer of the Assembly revealing that a peace broker met with the state executive on Sunday. However, the outcome of the meeting remains unclear, with the officer refusing to disclose details. The Assembly's spokesperson, Mr. Ifabiyi, has also stated that the allegation of assassination on a member of the Assembly has been reported to the appropriate authorities for investigation. This suggests that the crisis is not just about the Speaker's resignation, but also about the safety and security of lawmakers. The politics of crisis management are complex, with different stakeholders pulling in different directions. The Ondo State executive's intervention has added a new layer of complexity to the crisis, with lawmakers waiting to see how the situation will unfold.

The Ondo Assembly's crisis is not an isolated incident. Legislative crises are becoming increasingly common across Nigeria, with lawmakers often finding themselves at odds with their Speakers. This trend is part of a broader shift in the country's legislative landscape, one that reflects the growing tensions between lawmakers and their leaders. The rise of legislative crises is a symptom of a deeper problem: the lack of trust and confidence between lawmakers and their leaders. As the Ondo Assembly's crisis deepens, it is clear that this is a story that will continue to unfold in the coming days and weeks.

In the end, the Ondo Assembly's crisis is a reminder that the fate of lawmakers and the Assembly itself hangs in the balance. With the Speaker's resignation the only way forward, it is clear that the coming days will be crucial in determining the course of events. Will the Speaker resign, or will he face impeachment?