ONDO ASSEMBLY: My impeachment exercise in futility, sacked Speaker claims

The embattled Speaker of Ondo House of Assembly, Mrs. Jumoke Akindele, has described her purported impeachment as nothing but exercise in futility and said she remains the Speaker.

Her claim came barely 24 hours after she was allegedly impeached by some members of the House outside the premises of the state House of Assembly.

While earlier reports claimed that 15 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and five All Progressives Congress (APC) members out of the 26 members of the House on Friday voted to sack her, a later report claimed only 14 members voted for her impeachment.
The reason for the House decision was said to have been based on alleged financial misappropriation. It was learnt that Mr. Malachi Coker from Ilaje Constituency 1 was appointed immediately after the Speaker’s sack as the acting Speaker of the House.

Suspended along the Speaker was the deputy speaker and majority leader of the House, Mr. Fatai Olotu and Mr. Henry Akinsoyinu respectively.

Read also: How Ondo Speaker, deputy were impeached, new ones elected

Also, the House appointed Mr. Ayodele Arowele representing Owo Constituency 1 and Olamide George from Akure North Constituency as the deputy speaker and majority leader respectively.

The Assembly paymaster was alleged to have been seen carrying a “Gha‎na Must Go” bag containing cash at the Assembly premises. Upon interrogations, he was alleged to have said that the Speaker instructed him to take the money to her residence.

However, in a statement by the chairman, House Committee on Information, Mr. Siji Akindiose, on Saturday, the embattled Speaker ‎said her alleged suspension was an exercise in futility, arguing that members needed at least 18 members to effect any lawful change in the Assembly leadership.

 

 

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