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There is a discordant tone among members of the Ondo State House of Assembly as nine lawmakers have dissociated themselves from the impeachment notice served on the embattled deputy governor of the state, Agboola Ajayi.
Fourteen out of the 26 members of the Assembly on Tuesday served the impeachment notice on the deputy governor, while three lawmakers including the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Bamidele Oleyelogun, are yet to decide on the move. The Assembly needs two-third majority( 18 out of 26 members) to remove the deputy governor.
The chairman, House Commitee on Information, Hon. Gbenga Omole, while speaking with newsmen after Tuesday’s plenary expressed optimism that the 18 members required to impeach the deputy governor will be available when the time come.
“In fact only nine members of theb26 members are needed to sign the impeachment move but the House needs 18 to do the impeachment proper.
It is a process, we are at the first process, when the time come the required 18 will sign the impeachment,” Omole said.
But the nine members in a letter titled ‘Dissociation from impeachment process of Info Deputy Governor, H.E. Hon. Alfred Agboola Ajayi’ addressed to the Speaker, said they have resolved not to partake in the impeachment process, adding that they do not support the impeachment process and would not want to be associated with it based on personal convictions.
Those that signed the letter are;
Rt. Hon. Iroju Ogundeji
Hon. Jamiu Sulaiman Maito
Hon. Rasheed Olalekan Elegbeleye
Hon. Tomide Leonard Akinribido
Hon. Samuel Edamisan Ademola
Hon. Favour Semilore Tomowemo
Hon. Festus O. Akingbaso
Hon. Adewale Williams Asewinle
Hon. (Barr.) Torhukerhijo Success
One of the nine lawmakers who spoke to Newspeakonline on condition of anonymity, said: “Only three are undecided, if they eventually support the impeachment move, the number will still fall short of the 18 required to impeach.”
He, therefore, described the move as “dead on arrival.”