The prolonged absence of Ondo State Governor, Akeredolu, due to medical reasons fueled political tension and uncertainty in the state. In a bid to resolve the crisis, President Tinubu invoked the doctrine of necessity to appoint embattled Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as acting governor. This decision was reached during a closed-door meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where President Tinubu was joined by members of Akeredolu’s cabinet and lawmakers from the Ondo State House of Assembly.
The doctrine of necessity, a legal principle that allows for extraordinary measures to maintain order and uphold constitutional principles, has been previously employed in Nigeria’s political landscape. Its invocation paved the way for Goodluck Jonathan to assume the role of acting president in 2010, following the prolonged absence of then-President Umar Yar’Adua.
Aiyedatiwa’s appointment as acting governor is expected to be formalised by the Ondo State House of Assembly on Monday. This will grant him full executive powers to steer the state forward.
President Tinubu’s intervention was driven by concerns over the escalating political tension in Ondo State. The power struggles between cabinet members and lawmakers further heightened the tension. To resolve the crisis, key figures, including national chairman of the APC Abdullahi Ganduje, Deputy Governor Aiyedatiwa, and members of the National Assembly from Ondo State, were present at the meeting.
Notably, Governor Akeredolu’s wife, Betty Akeredolu, and son, Babajide, were reportedly denied entry to the meeting room during the critical decision-making process.
