Ondo Assembly Agrees to Cease Fire, Suspends Deputy Governor Aiyedatiwa’s Impeachment

The Ondo State House of Assembly has reached an agreement to suspend the impeachment process against Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. This decision comes after weeks of heightened tensions and political turmoil within the state.

The breakthrough in resolving the crisis was facilitated through the intervention of the leadership of the All-Progressives Congress (APC), under the guidance of National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje. A reconciliation meeting, held at the APC’s national secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday, led to the cessation of hostilities among the key political stakeholders.

Notably present at the reconciliation meeting were members of the APC’s National Working Committee, the 9-man Reconciliation Committee chaired by Aminu Bello Masari, Ondo State party chairman Ade Adetimilehin, and 18 out of the 22 APC lawmakers, with Speaker Oladeji Olamide leading the group.

The impeachment process against Deputy Governor Aiyedatiwa had been initiated upon the return of Ondo State Governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, from a 90-day medical leave. This had raised questions about whether Governor Akeredolu was behind the move to remove his deputy from office.

The allegations against Aiyedatiwa, which included charges of gross misconduct, resulted in the Assembly serving him a notice of impeachment. Aiyedatiwa contested this action in court, effectively stalling the impeachment process.

Following a closed-door meeting that lasted approximately two hours at the APC’s national secretariat in Abuja, both Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje and Assembly Speaker Hon. Oladeji Olamide confirmed the suspension of the impeachment process. Ganduje commended the stakeholders involved for choosing a political solution to resolve the crisis and hailed the lawmakers for their democratic spirit.

Speaker Olamide expressed the Assembly’s readiness to cooperate with the party and the reconciliation committee to find a lasting solution to the political crisis in Ondo State. The suspension of the impeachment process creates a conducive environment for further dialogue with the aim of achieving a political solution.

Chairman of the reconciliation committee announced that the probe and impeachment process have been suspended temporarily, with efforts ongoing to meet with the governor.

Meanwhile, Governor Akeredolu vehemently denied rumors of his return to Germany for medical vacation, deeming them baseless and unfounded. He asserted that the reports were the product of disgruntled politicians who had yet to come to terms with their thwarted political ambitions. Akeredolu emphasized his commitment to addressing the genuine concerns of the state’s citizens and prioritizing development as a means to foster a peaceful and thriving society. His administration has underscored this commitment by approving the recruitment of medical professionals and healthcare workers, further bolstering the state’s healthcare system.