Heavy security presence as Ondo Assembly plans to transfer power to Aiyedatiwa

Roads leading to the Ondo State House of Assembly have been taken over by security men as plans are underway by some members of the assembly to declare Governor Rotimi Akeredolu incapacitated.

WesternPost gathered that some members of the assembly have concluded plans to make the Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa acting governor since Akeredolu has failed to step his foot in the state since he returned to the country from medical leave on September 7.

Men dressed in black, believed to be from the Department of State Services (DSS), are stationed at the Shoprite junction which leads to the house of assembly, Governor’s Office and Government House.

Our correspondent gathered that the assembly members who have the support of the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja plan to first impeach the Speaker, Olamide Oladiji, before making Aiyedatiwa acting governor.

The state has been enmeshed in crisis since Akeredolu returned from medical leave to his private residence in Ibadan, with his supporters accusing Aiyedatiwa of disloyalty while being away.

Just five days after his return, Akeredolu sacked all of his deputy’s media aides, who were accused of sponsoring stories against the governor in the media.

The state house of assembly also commenced impeachment proceedings against Aiyedatiwa. This has however been stalled after the deputy governor dragged the lawmakers to court and the state Chief Judge, Olusegun Odusola, failed to set up a panel to investigate Aiyedatiwa despite two letters from the assembly speaker.

While stakeholders in the state including the Chief Imam of Akure, Yayi Akorede, and the leadership of Yoruba socio-cultural group Afenifere have called for a resolution to the crisis, WesternPost gathered that members of the assembly might have made up their minds on what to do.

Our correspondent gathered that many assembly members are not happy with how the state has remained almost grounded and the governor’s family taking full advantage of the situation.

The Governor’s son, Babajide Akeredolu, who is also the Director-General of the Performance and Project Implementation and Monitoring Unit (PPIMU), is reported to be the one calling the shots in the state in his father’s absence.