Ondo State House of Assembly has commenced impeachment proceedings against deputy governor of the state, Mr Agboola Ajayi, over alleged gross misconduct.

It was gathered that the assembly got into a rowdy session with armed police officers and officials of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps present at the complex in Akure.

Already, 14 lawmakers have supported the impeachment of Ajayi, one of the lawmakers who did not want his name on print told our correspondent.

The deputy governor had on Monday dragged the House of Assembly to court over the planned impeachment.

He said the decision is to halt plans by the assembly to begin his impeachment process for leaving the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ajayi through his lawyer, Mr I. Olatoke, filed a suit seeking to halt the impeachment proceeding and enforce his fundamental right of association at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Ajayi resigned his membership of APC and moved out of his official residence. He joined PDP and was formally welcomed to the party by its national chairman, Mr Uche Secondus.

According to him,  APC has ‘become a poisoned space’ with one man ‘kneeling on its neck’.

He has been screened by PDP and is expected to contest in the party’s primary ahead of the October gubernatorial election.

Meanwhile at least nine members of Ondo State House of Assembly have dissociated themselves from the impeachment.

The members in a joint letter to the speaker, Mr Bamidele Oleyelogun, on Tuesday said they did not support the impeachment and would not want to be associated with it.

The nine members are Iroju Ogundeji, Jamiu Suleiman, Rasheed Elegbeleye, Tomide Akinrinbido, Samuel Ademola, Favour Tomemowo, Festus Akingbaso, Adewale Williams and Torhukerhijo Success.

According to the letter, the members said “we the underlisted elected Honourable members of the 9th session of the Ondo State House of Assembly hereby append our signatures to clarify that we have resolved not to partake in the impeachment process of the Ondo State, Deputy-Governor, Agboola Ajayi.”

“In view of the above, we hereby bring to the notice of Mr Speaker, Bamidele David Oleyelogun, the entire Honourable members of the Ondo State House of Assembly and the general public that we do not support the impeachment process and would not want to be associated with it based on personal conviction.”

PT