Fracas between two factions of the Ondo State Assembly on Monday has led to the assembly premises being locked up by the Police in order to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
Reports say the clash between the factions was due to the purported suspension of the assembly’s Speaker, Jumoke Akindele and the deputy Speaker, Fatai Olotu.
It was gathered that thirteen lawmakers who are loyal to Akindele had arrived the assembly’s premises on Monday for a meeting; but they were confronted by members of the other faction who had announced the suspension of the Speaker and her deputy on Friday.
The Police was reportedly notified before the situation could degenerate into fisticuffs, and a detachment of mobile policemen was immediately deployed to avoid unrest.Journalists reported that the complex’s entrance was sealed off by the police officers.
Further findings revealed that both factions have 13 members each in their group, making it impossible for any faction to carry out an impeachment, as it required a two thirds majority of the 26-member house to so do.
The Speaker, Akindele and her deputy, Olotu, were accused by the other faction of withdrawing N15 million from the assembly’s account without prior approval by the assembly.
The 13-member faction on Friday announced a suspension of the Speaker and her deputy, replacing them with Malachi Coker as acting speaker and Ayodele Arowole as acting deputy speaker while Olamide George was voted as acting deputy majority leader.
Akindele has denied any wrongdoing, saying that the purported suspension was orchestrated by the All Progressives Congress, APC.Recall that the current Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko belongs to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
However, the party lost the Governorship election held in the state in November, to APC’s Rotimi Akeredolu, who will be sworn into office on February 24.