Row in Oyo over alleged plot to unseat Makinde, Olubadan

A political row has erupted in Oyo State over an alleged plot to impeach Governor Seyi Makinde and depose the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, sparking controversy across the state. The allegation surfaced following claims by former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, who accused Makinde of masterminding a plan linked to the recent Ibadan […]

A political row has erupted in Oyo State over an alleged plot to impeach Governor Seyi Makinde and depose the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, sparking controversy across the state.

The allegation surfaced following claims by former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, who accused Makinde of masterminding a plan linked to the recent Ibadan Obaship crisis involving the alleged removal of the Olubadan.

The development has deepened political tension within the Oyo State House of Assembly and among key political and traditional stakeholders.

Reports also suggested that certain political actors allegedly attempted to financially induce lawmakers in the state assembly to support the purported impeachment move against the governor.

The Olubadan and former First Lady of Oyo State, Ambassador-designate to Austria, Dr (Mrs) Florence Ajimobi, were also mentioned in connection with the alleged plot against Makinde.

 

Olubadan denies involvement

However, Oba Rashidi Ladoja has denied any involvement, describing the allegation as false, misleading, and capable of causing unnecessary tension.

In a statement issued by his media aide, Chief Adeola Oloko, the monarch warned against dragging the revered Olubadan throne into political disputes, stressing that such claims were illogical and unfounded.

He noted that it was constitutionally impossible for a traditional ruler to remove a sitting governor, adding that even a local government chairman could not be impeached by any traditional authority.

Ladoja reaffirmed his commitment to preserving the dignity of the traditional institution and urged political actors to desist from involving the throne in partisan controversies.

Similarly, Dr Florence Ajimobi, in a statement issued by her media office, dismissed the allegations as “entirely false, baseless, and a deliberate act of disinformation” aimed at tarnishing her image and misleading the public.

She denied ever hosting, attending, or participating in any meeting—whether in Lagos or elsewhere—where discussions on impeachment or destabilisation of the Oyo State Government were allegedly held.

“At no time did Ambassador Ajimobi convene or participate in any such meeting,” the statement read, adding that the claims were “malicious political propaganda” intended to damage her reputation, particularly among the people of Oyo State.

 

Speaker: I was offered monetary inducement

Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, has confirmed that he was approached with a monetary inducement but said he categorically rejected it.

Dismissing claims that he received funds from APC-linked proxies to facilitate impeachment moves, the Speaker described the allegation as false, misleading, and politically motivated.

“I was offered monetary inducement, but I declined without hesitation because no amount of money can buy my conscience or compromise my loyalty to the governor, the party, and the people we were elected to serve.

“I remain fully committed to upholding the integrity of this House and will not be part of any agenda aimed at destabilising the government,” he added.

Ogundoyin reaffirmed his loyalty to Governor Seyi Makinde and the ruling PDP, insisting that he would never betray the mandate of the people or undermine the administration.

He stressed that no money was exchanged at any meeting and maintained that the rumours were deliberately fabricated to destabilise both the executive and the legislature.

The Speaker also addressed reports surrounding his visit to Oba Rashidi Ladoja, clarifying that the meeting was purely consultative and held weeks earlier.

He said the visit was to inform the Olubadan of his governorship ambition and to seek royal blessings, stressing that it was based on respect for tradition and not political scheming.

He urged the public to disregard what he described as attempts to create division within the state’s leadership, reaffirming that the Assembly under his leadership remains committed to constitutional order, good governance, and the collective interest of the people.

Other lawmakers in the Oyo State House of Assembly have also distanced themselves from the alleged plot to impeach Makinde, describing the claims as baseless and politically motivated.

Hon. Sunkanmi Babalola, who represents Egbeda constituency, dismissed reports linking him to alleged secret meetings aimed at removing the governor, calling the allegations the work of “mischief-makers.”

He also rejected claims that lawmakers were offered between N250 million and N1 billion to support the purported impeachment, insisting that no inducement could override the will of the people.

“The people of Oyo State spoke clearly when they elected Governor Seyi Makinde. No amount of money can subvert that mandate,” he said.

Similarly, the assembly’s Chief Whip, Gbenga Oyekola, and Deputy Speaker, Abiodun Mohammed Fadeyi, denied any involvement in any destabilisation plot.

Oyekola said he was neither invited to nor aware of any meeting connected to impeachment discussions.

Meanwhile, former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, met behind closed doors with the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, amid the ongoing controversy over alleged plans to remove the monarch.

Before the meeting, Fayose told journalists he was in Ibadan to show solidarity with the traditional institution, adding that “the truth about the whole saga will soon be revealed.”

Fayose had earlier accused Governor Makinde of plotting to remove the Olubadan, an allegation denied by both the state government and the Olubadan’s palace.

In a post on social media, he alleged that recent accusations against the monarch were part of a broader scheme, insisting that claims of political interference were designed to justify moves against the traditional ruler.