Defection: Ondo Assembly Declares Former Deputy Speaker’s Seat Vacant

The Ondo State House of Assembly has declared the seat of the former Deputy Speaker, Iroju Ogundeji, vacant.

This was after the Speaker of the House, Mr Bamidele Oleyelogun had read a letter by the state Chairman of All progressives Congress, APC, Mr Ade Adetimehin indicating that Mr Ogundeji had resigned his membership of the party and decamped to Peoples Democratic Party on the 19th of March, 2022.

Relying on section 109 (1) and (g) of the 1999 constitution as amended, the motion was unanimously agreed to by all members of the house of Assembly present at the plenary that having resigned his membership of the APC Iroju Ogundeji was no longer competent to represent Odigbo constituency 1

Speaker of the House, Mr. Oleyelogun noted that having resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Ogundeji violated the relevant portion of the law hence should vacate his seat as representative of Odigbo constituency 1 in the State Assembly.

Mr. Oleyelogun said that all benefits and entitlements accruing to his office should be stopped immediately, while a letter to that effect should be forwarded to the Accountant General of Ondo State adding that all government property in his care should be submitted to the Clerk of the House.

The Speaker directed that a letter should equally be forwarded to the Office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) notifying it of the vacant seat for proper action.He called on all security operatives in the state to take all necessary action if Mr Ogundeji parades himself as a member of Ondo state House of Assembly.

Augustina Bajeh