Aiyedatiwa: I’ll contest Ondo poll | Nobody wants to be governor for one year

Lucky Aiyedatiwa, governor of Ondo, says he will contest the November 2024 governorship election in the state.

Speaking in an interview with TVC News on Friday, Aiyedatiwa said he never fell out with his former principal, the late Rotimi Akeredolu.

In December 2023, Aiyedatiwa was sworn in as the substantive governor of Ondo following the death of Akeredolu, the former governor.

Prior to Akeredolu’s demise, Aiyedatiwa had been battling impeachment threat from the state house of assembly while the former governor was sick.

It was rumoured that the relationship between Aiyedatiwa and Akeredolu was not cordial, hence the impeachment move.

Ahead of the November governorship election, it is being speculated that loyalists of the late Akeredolu may not support Aiyedatiwa for the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election.

The governor will have to battle with the likes of Jimoh Ibrahim, a senator, and Wale Akinterinwa, a former commissioner of finance in the state, for the APC ticket.

‘CONTROVERSY DRIVEN BY POLITICAL AMBITION’

During the interview, Aiyedatiwa was asked if he reconciled with Akeredolu before his death.

“Let me put this straight for record sake: I never had an issue with my former principal (Akeredolu),” Aiyedatiwa said in response.

“There was no time we had a face-off or an issue that would demand that I had to make up with him.

“All that was being pushed up at that time was political and falsehood insinuation because the election was coming and the governor was very sick.”

Asked if he will contest the Ondo election, Aiyedatiwa said: “Definitely, I will be running. I’m already a sitting governor. Let me say this: Nobody wants to be governor for one year.

“Give me what the constitution allows me to do. At least, let me have a chance of running for one more term.”