Oludaisi Elemide was sworn in as the new Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly on Tuesday.
Elemide, who represents Odeda State Constituency, is serving his third term as a lawmaker in the Assembly.
His appointment comes after the impeachment of Olakunle Oluomo, the former Speaker of the Assembly.
It was reported that 25 out of 26 members of the Assembly had signed the impeachment notice against Oluomo, citing allegations of highhandedness, lack of focus, and financial misappropriation, among others.
During the plenary, the Assembly ratified Oluomo’s impeachment, with 22 members present voting in favor of it.
During a plenary session led by Deputy Speaker Bolanle Ajayi, Musefiu Lamidi presented the findings of a committee established by the House to investigate Oluomo.
Lamidi clarified that the committee’s objective was not to unfairly target Oluomo but rather to provide him with a fair opportunity to address the allegations made against him.
Lamidi said, “The speaker said some of the committee members do not have the right to be a member of the committee to investigate him since they were among the 18 members who originally signed the impeachment notice.
“Having observed that the committee turned down his request, he walked out on the committee to avoid responding to further questions from the committee.
“The committee observed that the attitude of the speaker shows that he has no regard for the committee and, by extension, the House of Assembly.
“His attitude is a clear admittance of the allegations contained in the impeachment notice served on him which includes financial impropriety, highhandedness, and lack of focus among others,” he said.
Lamidi stated that the committee found him guilty of all the accusations against him and therefore suggested that he should be impeached.
Later, he proposed the acceptance of the report, which was supported by Oluseun Adesanya, who represents Ijebu North East State Constituency.
The Deputy Speaker then presented the resolution to the House, and the 22 members present voted in favor of removing Oluomo as the speaker.
“With the majority vote of 22 members, I hereby confirm that Oluomo stands impeached and removed as the speaker of the Ogun House of Assembly,” he said.
The Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, has responded to the development by congratulating the new Speaker and other lawmakers for successfully ensuring a smooth transition process.
The Governor, represented by his Deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, expressed his congratulations during a meeting with 19 members of the House who accompanied the new speaker on a courtesy visit to her office.
The Governor praised the lawmakers for their seamless election of the new speaker and emphasized that in a democracy, it is the right of the lawmakers to decide who will lead them.
“You have gone through the process in a way that is exemplary. This is not the first time in this country that members of a particular legislature have decided to change their leader.”
He emphasized that in its interactions with the House of Assembly, the executive branch would continue to uphold the rule of law and the notion of separation of powers.
