Ondo guber : Assembly denies endorsement of Gov. Aiyedatiwa

The Ondo State House of Assembly has denied reports in some sections of the media saying it endorsed the governorship ambition of the incumbent governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

A statement signed by 13 members of the House of Assembly made available to newsmen on Wednesday said the legislators frowned at the said reports and dissociated themselves from the report which cited an announcement by the Speaker, Mr Olamide Oladiji.

The legislators said that the House of Assembly operates on democratic principles, and would formally take a collective decision, follow due process and the relevant laws governing the State where it wishes to take any decision regarding the endorsement of a gubernatorial candidate.

The statement was signed by Hon Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi Majority Leader; Hon MoyinOlorun Taiwo Ogunwumiju ; Hon Oluwarotimi Babatunde Fasonu Chief Whip; Hon Olajide Johnson Oguntodu Minority Leader; Hon Raymond Daodu Deputy Minority Leader ; Hon Akinsuroju Akindolani Nelson; Hon AKOMOLAFE TEMITOPE ; Hon Ifabiyi Samuel Olatunji ; Hon Agbulu Tope Akeem ; Hon Christopher Odunayo Ayebusiwa ; Hon Atinuke Morenike Witherspoon ; Hon Biola John Oladapo and Hon. Afe Felix.

“As Honourable members of the 10th Ondo State House of Assembly, we were shocked and disappointed to hear the public declaration made by the Honourable Speaker of the House, Rt Hon. Olamide Oladiji, to the extent that the Ondo State House of Assembly has agreed to support the governorship ambition of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.

“The said declaration by Mr. Speaker is untrue, misleading, un-parliamentary, and, to say the least, ridiculous.

“We therefore wish to inform the good people of Ondo State at home and in the diaspora that:

1. At no point did the Ondo State House of Assembly deliberate the governorship ambition of any of the numerous aspirants that have indicated their interests to contest for the State’s 2024 Governorship Election, let alone agree to support any particular aspirant.

2. Mr. Speaker lacks the moral and legal authorities to speak or pledge support for any governorship aspirant on behalf of the House without the explicit consent of members.

3. Mr. Speaker has, by his unconventional and false public declaration, misrepresented the honourable House, and in so doing, brought the 10th Ondo State House of Assembly into disrepute, needless controversies and breached our confidence in his leadership.

4. Consequently, we hereby pass a vote of no-confidence in the leadership of the Speaker, Rt Hon Olamide Oladiji.

“The House of Assembly however reaffirms its commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that all decisions taken are transparent enough and are in the best interest of the people of Ondo State “, they said.