Governor Rotimi Akeredolu is scheduled to return to Germany due to deteriorating health, leaving Ondo State’s deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to assume the governorship.
The event occurs while Governor Akeredolu, who is scheduled to start his medical leave on Wednesday, December 13 (today), has not yet given the Ondo State Assembly a formal handover letter.
Punch Newspaper says that as of Tuesday evening, the Assembly—which convened in private session on Tuesday—had not received any correspondence from Akeredolu, despite his pledge to send an official handover letter.
According to a source, in the event that the Assembly does not receive the letter from Akeredolu, they may be obliged to embrace the concept of necessity.
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“The President, during the meeting held on Monday, directed that the House should get the letter transferring power to Aiyedatiwa; if they couldn’t get the letter from the governor, the House should adopt the Doctrine of Necessity,” Punch Newspaper quoted the anonymous State Assembly source as saying.
“They (the lawmakers) deliberated on the matter of the presidential directive, but I am sure the House will come out with something tomorrow (Wednesday). But as I am talking to you, the governor’s letter has not reached the Assembly.”
Recall that on Tuesday, Governor Akeredolu announced the start of a second medical leave and the transfer of power to his deputy in accordance with constitutional rules in a statement provided by his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the state deputy governor, will fill in as acting governor during his absence.
President Bola Tinubu met with Olamide Oladiji, the speaker of the state assembly, and representatives of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in November to discuss the state’s leadership dispute.
Oladiji disclosed that the meeting resolved to terminate all legal actions and impeachment proceedings resulting from the party’s power play, and that the deputy governor was mandated to submit an undated resignation letter before to assuming office.