President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has allegedly instructed Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, who is currently unwell, to delegate his powers to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa. This electronic power transfer is said to be facilitated through an electronic signature (e-signature), a departure from traditional physical documentation methods.
The directive was issued during a meeting called by President Tinubu to address the leadership crisis in Ondo State. Sources indicate that President Tinubu informed attendees about Governor Akeredolu’s deteriorating health, reaching a point where he could no longer sign official documents.
To address the leadership crisis in the South-West state, President Tinubu reportedly summoned the state deputy governor, Aiyedatiwa, and the House of Assembly Speaker, Olamide Oladiji, to an urgent meeting at Aso Villa in Abuja, scheduled for Monday.
Insiders suggest that President Tinubu intends to propose the deputy governor assume the role of acting governor during this meeting. The emergency gathering marks the second called by the President to address the leadership crisis arising from Governor Akeredolu’s absence from office since July 2023.
Pressure from the civil society organization Take-It-Back, threatening mass protests across Ondo State from December 16, to demand Akeredolu’s resignation, has also contributed to the urgency of the meeting.
Governor Akeredolu has been absent since returning to Nigeria in September from a three-month medical leave in Germany. Attendees at the meeting included Aiyedatiwa, Oladiji, Akeredolu’s son, Babajide, and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim.
Sources within the meeting disclosed that there was initially a consensus among attendees for the State House of Assembly to use the doctrine of necessity to appoint Aiyedatiwa as the interim governor. However, some individuals present implored President Tinubu not to proceed with this course of action, expressing concern that it would embarrass the ailing governor.
During the meeting, an individual reportedly raised concerns about the transfer of power through questionable methods, citing the existing case of forgery in the management of state affairs. As the situation unfolds, further updates are awaited regarding the resolution of the leadership crisis in Ondo State.
