Armed policemen have taken over the Ondo State House of Assembly, amid the final plenary sitting by lawmakers of the Ninth Assembly.
The entrances leading to the assembly complex were blocked with police vehicles.
The presence of the security agents has created tension around the complex, located on the Igbatoro road in Akure, the capital of Ondo.
The police barricade of the building was not immediately known but sources said it might not be unconnected with a plot to remove the outgoing speaker of the Ondo parliament, Bamidele Oleyelogun.
Mr Oleyelogun’s tenure as the speaker will end Friday (today).
A resignation letter purportedly signed by Mr Oleyelogun, stating that he had resigned from his position in the early hours of Friday surfaced on social media.
“Please permit me to inform you that I, Rt. Hon. Oleyelogun Bamidele David ceases to function as Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly. This follows my decision to resign from the position with effect from today,” stated an excerpt of the letter, dated June 1, 2023.
Although Mr Oleyelogun could not be immediately reached for comment on the letter, a source suggested the letter did not emanate from the speaker.
The Gazette could not also verify the authenticity of the letter despite bearing the signature of Mr Oleyelogun.
The House Committee on Information chairman, Gbenga Omole, confirmed the heavy presence of police to The Gazette on Friday.
Mr Omole accused the armed officers of trying to prevent the lawmakers from sitting and holding their final plenary.
“As I speak, they (armed policemen) have mounted the entrance of the gate,” he said.
He, however, kept silent when asked to comment on the purported letter of resignation of the speaker.