President Bola Tinubu has stepped into the ongoing political crisis in Ondo State involving Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Sources familiar with the situation revealed that the President invited members of the Ondo State House of Assembly to Abuja on Friday as part of efforts to calm tensions and prevent further political instability in the state.
The intervention followed appeals by prominent elders and traditional rulers in Ondo State, who reportedly urged Tinubu to step in and prevent what they described as a looming crisis.
The Assembly is said to be divided, with 11 lawmakers allegedly backing Aiyedatiwa amid the growing political tension.
According to sources, some external political interests had reached out to the lawmakers ahead of a planned plenary session initially scheduled for Friday.
One lawmaker, who spoke anonymously, claimed that the meeting was part of moves to empower Aiyedatiwa to take over the affairs of the state due to Akeredolu’s prolonged absence from public duties.
However, Speaker of the House, Olamide Oladiji, dismissed claims that the Assembly planned to declare Akeredolu incapacitated.
He clarified that the proposed plenary was only aimed at declaring Aiyedatiwa as Acting Governor pending the governor’s return.
“Our sitting was to declare Aiyedatiwa as Acting Governor. The Governor is still alive,” Oladiji said.
He also confirmed that the lawmakers were expected to meet with President Tinubu in Abuja on Friday afternoon, adding that the outcome of the meeting would determine the next step to be taken by the Assembly.
