Tension heightened at the Ondo state house of assembly in Akure on Thursday as suspected thugs invaded the legislative complex amid moves to remove Olamide Oladiji, the speaker.
Sources within the assembly said the suspected thugs were allegedly from Ondo township, the speaker’s constituency.
The men reportedly moved from one office to another within the assembly complex without any clear purpose, raising concerns among lawmakers and staff and creating tension on the premises.
A staff member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the situation was brought under control after Olajide Oguntodu, a member of the assembly, other lawmakers, and security agencies intervened.
The source said the suspected hoodlums were subsequently chased out of the assembly premises.
The development came against the backdrop of a deepening political crisis in the assembly over moves to remove Oladiji as speaker.
Some aggrieved lawmakers have accused Oladiji of mishandling N44 million reportedly released by the Ondo State Oil-Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) for the reordering of the commission’s 2026 budget.
They alleged that the speaker failed to carry members along in the disbursement of the funds.
Oladiji has denied the allegations, calling them politically motivated and insisting he never contemplated resigning.
The speaker has also accused lawmakers who failed to secure return tickets in the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries of being behind the impeachment move.