Ondo Assembly crisis: Security operatives foil plot of factional lawmakers to sit

The crisis rocking the Ondo State House of Assembly took a new twist on Tuesday as security operatives from the state police command foiled an attempt of a faction of members of the Assembly to hold a session.

Tribune Online gathered that the aggrieved faction led by Hon Malachi Coker had planned to sit at the Assembly yesterday morning before meeting a resistance from the police from the state command who eventually sealed off the Assembly complex.

A source also explained that the other group loyal to the embattled speaker, Hon Jumoke Akindele, have also gatherer to storm the House to disrupt the sitting but the security operatives had sealed off the premises before any of the faction could reach the Assembly complex

It will be recalled that the state governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, met with the two factions last week to resolve and reconcile the over two months crisis appealing to the two sides to sheathe their sword.

However, it was resolved that a committee comprising of members of the two warring factions should be set up but Tribune Online gathered that the committee has been unable to meet since its composition.

The governor was said to have called for the dissolution of the leadership of the two factions while the clerk of the House of the Assembly should preside until the House will elect new principal officers.

The embattled Speaker, Akindele, had shown her willingness to resign as the leader of the House, saying the present political arrangement in the state will it allow her continued stay in office but maintained that his resignation must follow a due process.

But the group led by Coker was said to have received the blessing of one of the political leaders and planned to sit at the House in order to legitimise their group under the current administration.

The governor was said to have distanced himself from the crisis but some other political interests outside the Assembly were said to be making the reconciliation moves to be difficult, with the governor apparently uncertain on the best approach to ending the crisis due to pressures.