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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Acting Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, will be sworn in as the governor of the state at 4pm today, December 27, 2023.
According to sources within the state government, the erstwhile deputy hovernor, will take over the reins of power following the death of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu earlier on Wednesday.
The development is in line with Section 191(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which states that: “The Deputy Governor of a State shall hold the office of Governor of the State if the office of Governor becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, impeachment, permanent incapacity, or removal of the governor from office for any other reason in accordance with sections 188 or 189 of this constitution.”
Aiyedatiwa, it was gathered, has left his Igbokoda hometown, where he is currently spending his Christmas and New Year holiday for Akure, for his inauguration.
The state Commissioner for Information, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, had in a statement confirmed Akeredolu’s passage, after a battle with lukaemia.
Tributes have also continued to pour in for the late governor, politician and legal luminary.
Aiyedatiwa was the deputy governor until Wednesday, December 13, when power was formally transferred to him after Akeredolu went on another medical vacation.