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Defamation Allegation Sparks Tension At Oyo Assembly’s First Sitting in 2026

PublishedJanuary 20, 2026

The Oyo State House of Assembly was thrown into tension on Tuesday following a heated exchange between the Majority Leader, Hon. Onaolapo Sanjo Adedoyin, and a fellow lawmaker, Hon. Ibrahim Shittu, representing Saki West State Constituency, over alleged defamation of character.

The controversy erupted during the first plenary sitting of the House in 2026, held on Tuesday, January 20, when Adedoyin, who represents Ogbomoso South State Constituency, raised the issue as a matter of personal explanation on the floor of the Assembly.

Addressing the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, and other lawmakers, the Majority Leader described the allegations against him as a grave infringement on his legislative privileges and a direct attack on his integrity, as well as on the institution of the Oyo State House of Assembly.

Adedoyin said the matter stemmed from a speech allegedly delivered by Hon. Shittu at a public programme in Saki Town, which he said was later circulated widely on social media platforms including Facebook, X, YouTube, and several online news blogs.

“In that speech, I was falsely accused of offering and receiving bribes from the Chairman of Saki West Local Government to influence or alter the course of an investigation into allegations against him,” Adedoyin stated.

He described the allegation as “baseless, malicious, and entirely untrue,” insisting that he merely acted on the directive of the Speaker to review petitions submitted against the local government chairman.

“For the record, Mr. Speaker directed me to look into the petitions submitted against the Chairman, and I dutifully carried out that responsibility. Claims of bribery involving the House leadership are mischievously fabricated to mislead the public for political gains,” he said.

The Majority Leader further alleged that Shittu extended the accusations to the office of the Speaker, claiming that the Speaker altered the course of justice based on political party considerations.

“Such insinuations are not only false but dangerous, as they attempt to portray this House as partisan and unjust,” Adedoyin said, stressing that the Assembly has never engaged in political favouritism.

He also accused the Saki West lawmaker of ridiculing the House Special Ad-hoc Committee that conducted oversight functions in Oyo North, alleging that Shittu absented himself from the committee’s assignment.

“His deliberate absence from critical legislative duties speaks volumes about his commitment to the responsibilities entrusted to him by his constituents,” he added.

Describing the incident as part of a recurring pattern, Adedoyin said it was not the first time Hon. Shittu had engaged in what he called character assassination against the leadership of the Assembly.

He further revealed that the allegations had caused him and his family severe emotional and psychological distress.

“My image has been gravely damaged. I have received disturbing calls from friends and colleagues, while my family is currently undergoing emotional trauma as a result of these false allegations,” he said.

Consequently, Adedoyin appealed to the Speaker to invoke the powers of the House under the Legislative Powers and Privileges Act, 2017, and Order VII of the Assembly’s rules to investigate the matter.

Responding, Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin cautioned lawmakers against making unfounded, exaggerated, or inflammatory statements capable of misleading the public and undermining the integrity of the legislature.

He urged members to exercise restraint, uphold decorum, and remain guided by the rules of the House in all public engagements, emphasising that the Assembly must continue to project itself as a disciplined and responsible institution.

To ensure due process, the Speaker referred the matter to the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges, directing the committee to conduct a thorough investigation and report back to the House within one week.

The House thereafter resolved to await the committee’s report before taking further action on the issue.

Abiodun Ogunrinde, Ibadan

Abiodun Ogunrinde is a Linguist and Journalist with considerable years of experience in Print Journalism. He blends creativity with a sense of reporting that addresses public concern and human interests.