Impeachment Update: Ondo CJ Advises Assembly to Follow Rules; Refuses To Set Up Panel

By Ayodele Oni, Akure

The move by a mojority number of the Ondo House of Assembly to impeach Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi, has suffered a set-back.

The Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice Olanrewaju Akeredolu, has refused to set up an impeachment panel, as requested by the members. She, instead, been advised the leadership of the  Assembly to follow constitutional procedure in the impeachment process.

To this end, the CJ, has returned the letter requesting her to constitute a panel to investigate the deputy governor to the Speaker, Mr Bamidele Oleyelogun.

Fourteen members, as against the constitutionally required 18, which form the two third of 26, had signed the impeachment notice, while nine members refused to sign.

As at the close of work on Thursday, the leadership of the assembly was making frantic efforts to convince the CJ, insisting that the two third put forward was for those that were physically present during the plenary on Monday.

The CJ has, reportedly, been bombarded with series of letters,  urging that the Constitution is strictly followed in the impeachment process.

The nine members who refused to sign the notice   sent a letter to her, appealing to get to stand form by the constitution.

Allegedly to make the number required for the impeachment, the Assembly has suspended two members on Wednesday, while the Majority Leader, resigned from his office.

DG Ajayi had a couple of weeks ago, resigned from the membership of the APC, and joined the PDP, but refused to resign from the office of the DG. He has since picked the Governorship form of the PDP, under which he wishes to challenge the Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, for the Governorship seat.

In another development, the Chairman of the APC in Ese-Odo LGA, Info state, has dumped the party for the PDP.

He and DG Ajayi are from the same LGA.