Impeachment: Ondo Assembly Bows, Wants Deputy Governor To Withdraw Suits

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State House of Assembly seems to have accepted the peace moves being pushed by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the moves to  impeach the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

Aside from the fact that the Lawmakers attended  a meeting in Abuja on Tuesday at the instance of the National Chairman of APC, the Assembly has equally extended its own olive branch, which they expect the  Deputy Governor to honour before the issues could be resolved.

The Leadership of the Assembly stated that as much as Members are ready for a political solution to the issue, the Deputy Governor must withdraw the suits he instituted against the House over the impeachment.

The Assembly had earlier vowed not to welcome any intervention in the impeachment move.

A statement in Akure on Wednesday, signed by the Spokesman of the Assembly, Olatunji Emmanuel, stated thus:  “Following the intervention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by Dr. Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, the APC members in Ondo State House of Assembly have agreed to consider the possibility of a political solution on the impeachment proceedings against the State Deputy Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.

“At a meeting held in the APC’s National Secretariat in Abuja on 17th October, 2023 at the instance of the National Chairman of the Party, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the National Reconciliation Committee set up by the Party under the Chairmanship of RT. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, members of the APC in Ondo State House of Assembly, led by the Speaker Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, and the Ondo State leadership of APC led by Engr Ade Adetimehin, all agreed that a political solution to the impeachment was possible and proper.

“The Hon. Speaker restated that the House was only exercising its responsibility under S.188 of the 1999 Constitution, having received a petition accusing the Deputy Governor of some allegations of gross misconduct and abuse of office.

“He however, expressed the desire of the House leadership to further consult with members of the House  across party lines, on the political solution as proposed by the APC.

“The House, therefore, hopes that in the same spirit of genuine wish for a political solution, the Deputy-Governor would take immediate steps to withdraw the multiple court cases he filed over the same impeachment.

“This would allow the stakeholders to freely discuss the settlement proposals and prevent actions or comments over a matter that is still subjudice.”