After weeks of animosity, members of the Ondo State House of Assembly have agreed to suspend the impeachment process against the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
The lawmakers agreed to end hostilities following the intervention of the leadership of the All-Progressives Congress (APC) led by the National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, after a reconciliation meeting held at the party secretariat on Tuesday in Abuja
At the truce meeting were members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), the Aminu Bello Masari-led 9-man Reconciliation Committee, Ondo State party chairman, Ade Adetimilehin, and 18 of the 22 APC lawmakers led by Speaker Oladeji Olamide.
The impeachment process against Aiyedatiwa commenced after Akeredolu came back from his 90 days of medical leave.
But the timing of the impeachment had suggested that Akeredolu initiated the process to oust his deputy from office.
The Deputy governor came under the threat of impeachment by the Assembly following allegations of gross misconduct.
Consequently, the Assembly served him notice of impeachment, which he also challenged in court, thus stalling the process.
Addressing a press conference after a closed door meeting, which lasted for about two hours at the national secretariat of the APC in Abuja, both Ganduje and the Assembly Speaker, Hon. Oladeji Olamide, confirmed the development to suspend the impeachment process.
Ganduje commended all the stakeholders in the crisis for allowing a political solution to the impasse in the state.
The chairman stressed that the decision by the lawmakers to ceasefire showed that they were democrats and committed party faithful.
“First of all, I have to thank the Speaker and his members of the State Assembly for honouring our invitation to have an in-depth discussion and receive an interim report from the reconciliation committee.
“We thank you for that. This is proof that you are real democrats, civilised and believe in conflict resolution. I have to thank everybody in the reconciliation committee, which has experienced members, several senators, House of Representatives members and even the two-term governor of Katsina, Aminu Masari who joined us.” Ganduje stated.
Chairman of the reconciliation committee said the impeachment process has been suspended.
“For now, the probe and impeachment process have been suspended to allow room for the committee to work. We met with all stakeholders, except for the governor who we are still making an effort to see,” he said.