The Ondo State House of Assembly has suspended impeachment proceedings against the state’s Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and agreed to allow for political solutions.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the lawmakers made the decision on Tuesday after meeting with the party’s Reconciliation Committee and the National Working Committee (NWC) led by APC chairman Abdullahi Ganduje at the APC national secretariat.
The development was made known by the party in a short statement on X (formerly Twitter).
Members of the Aminu Masari-led reconciliation committee included the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola; Benue politician, Senator Jack Tilley Gyado; immediate past Governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Tanko Al-Makura; former Governor of Ebonyi state, Martin Elechi and ex-Governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed Abubakar.
The impeachment process was initiated by some members of the Assembly, who accused Aiyedatiwa of gross misconduct, abuse of office with actions likely to bring down the Ondo State government, financial recklessness, and publications in print media by media aides maligning the credibility of the governor.
The assembly had therefore asked the state chief judge, Olusegun Odusola, to set up a 7-member panel of inquiry to investigate the allegations against the deputy governor.
“The chief judge is hereby implored to appoint a panel of seven persons who are of unquestionable integrity to investigate the allegation against the deputy governor and report to the house,” the speaker said.
However, the Deputy Governor had denied the allegations.
Recall that Mr. Aiyedatiwa had also approached the Ondo State High Court to seek an injunction restraining the assembly from proceeding with the move and breaching his right to a fair hearing.
Also, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court had issued an injunction preventing the assembly from impeaching Mr Aiyedatiwa on the grounds of alleged gross misconduct.
