The Deputy Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Abayomi Akinruntan has resigned from the position with a replacement appointed by the house immediately on Tuesday.
Shortly after his resignation, Ololade Gbegudu, representing Okitipupa Constituency 2, was nominated by Oluwatoyin Japheth of Akoko North East and seconded by Chris Ayebusiwa of Okitipupa Constituency 1.
This represented a major shake-up as the Deputy Speaker, Abayomi Akinruntan, cites the need to align with the state’s “conventional arrangement” of elective positions as his reason for stepping aside.
Akinruntan, who represents Ilaje Constituency 1 and is the son of the Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom, Oba Fredrick Akinruntan, communicated his decision in a letter read on the Assembly floor by the Clerk, Benjamin Jayeiola.
Meanwhile, he was notably absent during the plenary session.
“I hereby tender my resignation from the office of the Deputy Speaker effective from today, 2nd June, 2025,” the letter stated.
“My resignation is borne out of the need to align with the conventional arrangement in power sharing of elective positions in the state.”
Akinruntan was unanimously elected as Deputy Speaker during the inauguration of the 10th Assembly in June 2023 and held the role for nearly two years.
Shortly after his resignation, Ololade Gbegudu, representing Okitipupa Constituency 2, was nominated by Oluwatoyin Japheth of Akoko North East and seconded by Chris Ayebusiwa of Okitipupa Constituency 1.
The nomination, which went uncontested, led to Gbegudu’s immediate swearing-in as the new Deputy Speaker.
Gbegudu pledged to serve with “due diligence” and thanked members for their confidence in his leadership.
Meanwhile, the Assembly’s Majority Leader also stepped down, although official details regarding the resignation and a replacement are yet to be disclosed as of press time.
The Majority Leader of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, has stepped down from his position. In his place, Olatunji Oshati, who represents Ose Constituency, has been announced as the new Majority Leader.
In a related development, Muritala Sulaiman, representing Akoko South East, has been named the new Chief Whip, while Fabiyi Olatunji of Odigbo Constituency 1 assumes the role of Whip.
The Speaker of the House, Olamide Oladiji, praised both the former Deputy Speaker and the outgoing Majority Leader for the maturity and peaceful manner in which the leadership transition was handled.
“The former Majority Leader has been a stabilising force in the House and a reliable ally,” Oladiji noted.
