Oyo Impeachment Scare: Tension Grips Agodi as Lawmakers Storm Governor’s Lodge to Pledge Loyalty

There was palpable tension in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Tuesday as members of the State House of Assembly held an emergency meeting at the Governor’s Lodge to address reports of an alleged impeachment plot against Governor Seyi Makinde. The high-level gathering comes amidst heavy speculation that some political actors are working behind the scenes to trigger a legislative coup, a development that has seen lawmakers taking turns to publicly distance themselves from the move while uncovering “deliberate attempts” to destabilize the state.

The assembly’s leadership and several floor members used the forum to address reports of a clandestine move to drive a wedge between the legislature and the Governor. Adding significant weight to the executive’s defense, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Media, Public Affairs and ICT, Hon. Waheed Akintayo, issued a stinging rebuttal to the rumors. In a press release made available in Ibadan on Tuesday, Akintayo, who represents Oluyole State Constituency, described the allegations as the handiwork of “certain elements” desperate to sow discord. He declared his loyalty to Governor Makinde as “total, unshaken, and unwavering,” insisting that the House remains a partner in progress rather than an agent of distraction.

The Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Gbenga Oyekola, echoed this sentiment, denying any involvement in meetings aimed at undermining the government. Oyekola clarified that he was neither consulted nor invited to any forum where such a plot was discussed, reaffirming his commitment to state stability. The lawmakers’ public stance follows whispers of “unseen hands” working behind the scenes to trigger a leadership crisis, a narrative that the lawmakers are now moving swiftly to debunk.

Adding a layer of complexity to the unfolding drama, reports from the meeting indicated that the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, disclosed that he had been approached by several prominent figures, including traditional and political leaders. These individuals reportedly sought to influence the Speaker regarding his future political trajectory, with some allegedly offering significant financial inducements to sway the direction of the House. According to the accounts shared at the Governor’s Lodge, the Speaker rejected these offers, choosing instead to maintain the integrity of the legislature.

As the meeting concluded, the lawmakers presented a unified front, pledging their continued solidarity with Governor Makinde’s administration. However, despite the public display of unity and the vocal denials from key figures like Akintayo and Oyekola, political analysts suggest that the coming days will be critical. The focus remains on whether this collective pledge of allegiance will permanently silence the rumors or if the “conspicuous silence” of a few remaining members indicates deeper fissures yet to be addressed in the Oyo State political structure.