The potential impeachment of the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, has been temporarily halted following a crucial intervention by the All Progressives Congress (APC). This development comes after 24 out of the 26 lawmakers expressed their support for the impeachment due to allegations of financial misconduct involving approximately ₦44 million linked to the budget of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC).

The APC leadership convened a meeting with the aggrieved lawmakers over the weekend, urging them to pause their impeachment efforts and seek a resolution through dialogue. The lawmakers had previously demanded Oladiji's resignation or removal, citing a loss of confidence in his leadership. However, the state government has characterized the discord as an internal legislative matter, with Oladiji denying the allegations and claiming they are politically motivated.

A source from the APC meeting revealed that the party's primary goal was to prevent the situation from escalating into a larger political crisis, especially with the upcoming 2027 elections on the horizon. "The meeting was basically to appeal to both sides to calm down. The party does not want the matter to escalate beyond what it is at the moment," the source stated.

While the lawmakers have agreed to hold off on further actions, they have not retracted their impeachment plans. The APC has encouraged the lawmakers to allow the mediation process to unfold without further confrontation. Despite the temporary truce, one lawmaker emphasized that their grievances remain unresolved, indicating that they are merely waiting for the right moment to act. "We are just biding our time and, out of respect for the leadership of the party, we have decided to listen to them. We have not abandoned the impeachment plan," he remarked.

The APC's intervention highlights the ongoing tensions within the Ondo State Assembly and the challenges facing its leadership. As the party seeks to maintain stability in the legislature, it is clear that the underlying issues will require careful navigation to avoid further conflict. The Speaker currently remains in office, but the path forward is fraught with uncertainty as the party continues its consultations with all involved parties.