The leadership crisis in the Ondo State House of Assembly has deepened as a majority of lawmakers issued a Sunday deadline to Speaker Olamide Oladiji to resign or face impeachment over allegations of financial misconduct.

Twenty-one of the 26 members of the Assembly have reportedly signed an impeachment notice accusing the Speaker of diverting ₦44 million allocated for the reordering of the Ondo State Oil-Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) budget.

Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Olatunji Fabiyi, confirmed the development on Wednesday, saying the lawmakers had resolved that Oladiji should step down or be removed at the next plenary.

According to Fabiyi, the lawmakers met with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to brief him on the matter, stressing that the move was not politically motivated.

“We have resolved that Mr Speaker should go. Twenty-one members have signed for his removal. We only gave him time to resign honourably. If he fails to do so by Sunday, we will remove him,” Fabiyi said.

He alleged that the Speaker reordered the OSOPADEC budget without the knowledge or approval of members and falsely presented it as the resolution of the House.

Fabiyi described the action as unacceptable, insisting that no individual should act on behalf of the Assembly without its consent.

A lawmaker, who spoke anonymously, also alleged that the Speaker and his deputy diverted the ₦44 million earmarked for the budget reordering and confirmed that the impeachment process had begun.

According to the lawmaker, Governor Aiyedatiwa had initially appealed for patience but later advised the Speaker to resign.

Responding to the allegations, Speaker Olamide Oladiji denied any wrongdoing, saying he was unaware of any impeachment notice against him.