By Ken Afor
Hon. Olakunle Oluomo, the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, was on Tuesday impeached during the plenary session by some members of the assembly.
Hon. Oluomo was reportedly impeached by 18 lawmakers out of the 26-member assembly due to allegations of financial misappropriation, gross misconduct, and a poor leadership style.
To fill the vacant seat, Mr. Oludaisi Elemide, representing Odeda State Constituency, was elected as the new Speaker.
According to Vanguard, Oluomo’s impeachment was initiated through a motion by Adegoke Adeyanju, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) representing Yewa North 1 State Constituency, and seconded by Ademola Adeniran, another APC member representing Sagamu II State Constituency.
The report states that Adeyanju entered the Assembly chamber with the mace, accompanied by other lawmakers.
Addressing journalists shortly after his election as the new Speaker, Elemide stated that the people of the state should expect the best from him.
He said, “we are law abiding legislators. We want the world to know that there has been changed in leadership.
“18 members signed for me to be the Speaker. People should remain calm. We are in custody of all the authority of the House. We are saying that the new leadership will support the governor.”
He mentioned that the state Governor, Dapo Abiodun, was not aware of the impeachment.
Meanwhile, Mr. Damilola Soneye, representing Obafemi Owode State Constituency, pointed out that the office of the Speaker is to be first among equals.
“The Speaker was impeached due to gross misconduct which bothers on high handedness, lack of focus and transparency, arrogance and poor leadership style, financial misappropriation and inciting members against themselves,” he said.
The impeachment was witnessed by the Clerk and the Deputy Clerk, Mr. Deji Adeyemo and Mrs. Funmilayo Adeyemi.
There was a heavy presence of security operatives, including the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), at the Assembly Complex during the impeachment proceedings.
