Ondo Legislature declares seat of former deputy speaker, Iroju Ogundeji, vacant for defection from APC

The Ondo State House of Assembly at plenary on Thursday declared the seat of the former Deputy Speaker of the House, Iroju Ogundeji, representing Odigbo constituency 1, vacant after his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

APC State Chairman in Ondo, Ade Adetimehin, had written the House to relay Iroju’s letter conveying the resignation of his membership of the party. Iroju Ogundeji defected from the APC to the PDP on 19th March 2022.

The House, citing section 109(1) and (g) of the 1999 constitution as amended, in their resolution declared that “Iroju Ogundeji is no longer competent to represent Odigbo constituency 1 since he has resigned his membership of APC through which he was elected into office.”

The Majority leader of the House, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, had moved the motion, which was seconded by the Deputy Speaker, Samuel Aderoboye. The motion was unanimously adopted by all members present at plenary.

The House directed the Commissioner of Police to arrest Ogundeji for impersonation as Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly.

Iroju Ogundeji, however, dismissed the action as illegal and contempt of court. He declared: “I have filed a suit at the Federal High Court and the court has fixed May 10 for the hearing of the suit. The Assembly has been served with the court processes. Whatever action the Assembly has purported to have done is to overreach the court.”