On Tuesday, 23rd January 2024, the Ogun State House of Assembly impeached Olakunle Oluomo, the Speaker. However, on Friday, 27th January 2024, he rejected the impeachment and stated that he would continue to serve as Speaker.

At a news conference on Friday, 27th January 2024 at the legislative quarters, Oluomo called his removal “unconstitutional” and stated that he chose to travel from the assembly complex to the governor’s office at the beginning of the impeachment process.

After being impeached on Tuesday, 23rd January 2024, and being replaced by Odeda Constituency Legislator Oludaisi Elemide, Oluomo claimed that resentful colleagues had terrorized him since the start of his second tenure.

During his press conference at the Legislative Quarters house in Ibara GRA, the beleaguered Oluomo said that he has filed a court case about the subject.

He ruled that the 18 legislators’ actions were “unconstitutional, null, void, and of no effect whatsoever.”

“I have been flooded with calls and messages from multiple media outlets since Tuesday, 23rd January 2024 when the drama occurred in the House, but I have refrained from speaking with the media because I think the Party and Government leadership will step in,” he added.

However, on Wednesday, I became aware that the anticipated intervention was not occurring. I believe I must speak with the media.

Oluomo expressed gratitude to the State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, for his involvement in the issue roiling the House, but he also mentioned that he had been struggling with certain members of Assembly who had never supported him for a second term as Speaker.

“I have no issues with my colleagues, even though you are all aware of the background to my emergency as the Speaker for a second term,” he stated.

“To be honest with you, though, I have not been finding it easy. Some individuals continued to threaten violence even after I became elected Speaker. It has been from one issue to another.”

While I acknowledge the viewpoint that the House of Assembly has the authority to select its leaders at any moment, I also believe that the decision should be made under the law.

Oluomo, among other things, clarified that he was taken aback to learn of his impending impeachment on Wednesday, January 24, given that his actual impeachment had taken place on Tuesday, 23rd January 2024. He also emphasized that this went against the established procedure for impeaching a Speaker.

Additionally, the impeached Speaker reported that despite intervention from the Governor and other members of the National Assembly, the 18 parliamentarians persisted.

Oluomo said he had filed a challenge against his “gestapo impeachment” with the Ogun State High Court. He claimed the court had given him orders to serve the legislators and scheduled a hearing on February 7, 2024.

Oluomo, the Representative of Ifo State Constituency, was ousted by 18 lawmakers on Tuesday, 23rd January 2024 due to charges of egregious misbehavior, haughtiness, lack of transparency and focus, embezzlement of funds, and instigating members against one another.

His seat in the Odeda State constituency was promptly filled by Oludaisi Elemide, another ranking legislator.

Read Also: Oluomo, Ogun Speaker Impeached

Elemide said that the people of the state can expect nothing less than the best from him in an interview with newsmen following his election as speaker. “We are lawmakers who uphold the law. We want the world to be aware that the leadership has changed.”

“I was asked to speak, and eighteen people joined up. Everyone should maintain their composure. All the house’s power is under our control. We are stating that the new leadership will support the Governor. The Governor has no knowledge of this impeachment,” he declared.

The APC lawmaker Damilola Soneye, who represents Obafemi/Owode, made the following statement regarding Oluomo’s impeachment: “The speaker was impeached due to gross misconduct, high handedness, lack of focus and transparency, arrogance and poor leadership style, financial misappropriation and inciting members against themselves.”