Ondo Assembly Commences Impeachment Procedure Against Deputy Governor, Aiyedatiwa, Receives Petition

By Ayodele Oni

Embattled Deputy Governor of Ondo State is on his way out, despite assurances, a few days ago by the State  House of Assembly that there was no intention to impeach him.

Aiyedatiwa, second Deputy to  work with Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, in his six years, has been having a running battle with the  Governor since his return from medical leave.

Akeredolu, also, had a running battle with his first Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, and made an unsuccessful attempt to impeach him. Ajayi stayed on, left when he decided to, and contested against the Governor during the  Governor’s contest for a second term in office. He was replaced by Aiyedatiwa who the Governor chose as his Deputy for his second term in office.

Aiyedatiwa is facing same impeachment process now.

He was accused of embarking on some surreptitious moves while the Governor was away for three months to attend to his health challenges.

On his return, Akeredolu had sacked the Deputy Governor’s Media team and confined him to Akure, while other aides  visit Ibadan, Oyo state, where the Governor is currently repecurating to take instructions for the day to day running of the Government.

A report monitored on State Radio, Wednesday, revealed that the State House of Assembly has directed the Clerk of the House, Benjamin Jaiyeola, to write the Deputy Governor,  Aiyedatiwa, over allegations of Gross Misconduct levelled against him.

The Petition, which has been signed by Nine out of 26 Members of the House was read during the plenary presided over by the Speaker, Olamide Oladiji.

It was gathered that members of the Assembly are allegedly bent to carry out the impeachment of Aiyedatiwa.

His predecessor, Ajayi succeeded in having his way at the previous Assembly as efforts to impeach him were thwarted by his loyalists until he resigned voluntarily and decamped to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

If the required signatories are secured for the petition, the days of the Deputy Governor are numbered in Government.