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

No fewer than 21 of the 26 lawmakers have reportedly signed an impeachment notice against the Speaker, accusing him of diverting N44 million allocated for the reordering of the budget of the Ondo State Oil-Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC).

Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Olatunji Fabiyi, confirmed the development in a telephone interview, saying the lawmakers had resolved that Oladiji should vacate office and would proceed with impeachment if he failed to resign before Sunday.

According to Fabiyi, the Assembly leadership had briefed Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on the matter to dispel insinuations that external forces were behind the move, stressing that the governor had merely requested time while allowing the lawmakers to carry out their constitutional responsibilities.

“We have resolved that Mr Speaker should go. But in the wisdom of the leadership of the House, we felt we should meet with Mr Governor,” Fabiyi said.

He explained that the crisis stemmed from the alleged reordering of the OSOPADEC budget without the knowledge or approval of members, describing the action as a serious breach of legislative procedure.

“A resolution was written in the name of members without our knowledge. It was stated that members had sat down and agreed to it, and that it was our resolution, which it was not. It is a criminal offence. You cannot shave our heads behind our backs. That is what we are fighting for,” he said.

Fabiyi warned that the Speaker had until Sunday to step down voluntarily, insisting that failure to do so would trigger impeachment proceedings at the next plenary sitting.

“So, if somebody is protecting him, it means that person is aiding and abetting him. We are giving him till Sunday. If he fails to resign, we will remove him,” he added.

The latest development follows allegations made earlier this week by a lawmaker, who spoke anonymously, accusing the Speaker and his deputy of diverting N44 million earmarked for the OSOPADEC budget reordering exercise.

The lawmaker also alleged that Oladiji unilaterally reordered the agency’s budget without the consent of the Assembly.

He maintained that the impeachment process had begun about three weeks ago but was delayed following interventions by Governor Aiyedatiwa.

“We just want him to resign honourably and, if he fails to do so, we will impeach him on the floor of the House. We have initiated an impeachment notice, and 21 members have already signed,” the lawmaker said.

However, Oladiji dismissed the allegations when contacted, insisting he was unaware of any impeachment notice and denying wrongdoing.