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ABEOKUTA, TUESDAY, JANUARY 2324 – The impeachment of Rt. Hon. Olukunle Taiwo Oluomo as Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, unfolded like a theatrical production, with eighteen out of 26 assembly members voting against him during the plenary session.
The grounds for his immediate impeachment were anchored on Section 92(2)(c) of the Nigerian Constitution and Order 11 of the House Rules.
In swift succession, Hon. Daisi Elemide, representing Odeda State Constituency, assumed the role of the new Speaker.
The dissatisfied members cited Oluomo’s alleged highhanded leadership, embezzlement of funds, lack of focus, and transparency as the catalysts for their decisive action.
The roots of this power shift were traced back to a prior contest between Hon. Elemide and Rt. Hon. Oluomo, where the latter emerged victorious, seemingly due to Executive support.
The upheaval then reached a chaotic crescendo, leading to the deployment of tear gas to disperse the agitated crowd.
This turn of events was allegedly preceded by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigning Oluomo on September 6, 2022, before a Federal High Court in Lagos for an alleged N2.475bn money laundering scheme.
Oluomo, along with three others, faced charges of conspiracy, forgery, stealing, and money laundering, between 2019 and 2022.
The prosecution alleged that they pilfered N2.475bn from the treasury of the Ogun State House of Assembly. While granted bail, Oluomo’s trial continued.
Despite facing legal challenges, Oluomo had been re-elected unopposed as Speaker on June 20, 2023.
The political dynamics within the Ogun State House of Assembly, dominated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) with 17 of the 26 seats, featured ongoing tensions between Oluomo and a former Deputy Speaker, Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, both APC members.
Observers interpreted this recent development as a substantial shakeup in the political landscape of Ogun State, underscoring the intricate dynamics and power struggles within the state’s political sphere.
