Ondo State governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Wednesday dissolved the State Executive Council (SEC), nine months after their appointment.
The cabinet, comprising commissioners, special advisers, and senior special assistants drawn from the state’s 18 local government areas, had been appointed on April 15, 2024.
A statement signed by Aiyedatiwa’s spokesman, Ebenezer Adeniyan, directed the affected members to hand over government properties to their respective ministry accounting officers. However, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Kayode Ajulo (SAN), and the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Omowunmi Isaac, were exempted from the dissolution due to the critical nature of their duties.
The cabinet shake-up followed Aiyedatiwa’s victory in the November 16, 2024, governorship election, where he defeated his closest rival, Agboola Ajayi of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The governor is set to be sworn in for a second term on February 24, as Ondo State’s fifth democratically elected governor.
Political analysts in the state suggested that Aiyedatiwa is likely to prioritise technocrats in forming his new cabinet to ensure effective governance.
A political analyst, Adewale Ibrahim, told Daily Trust that expectations are high for the governor to assemble a competent team to execute his developmental agenda.
“If you look at the budget presented to the House of Assembly, infrastructure received the lion’s share, showing the governor’s focus on governance. It is expected he will bring in technocrats and individuals capable of delivering results. Politics is over; the next four years are about governance and building a legacy. I doubt the governor will entrust critical roles to politicians,” Ibrahim said.
While speculation about potential cabinet members continues, Aiyedatiwa has kept his plans under wraps, maintaining a strategic silence on his choices ahead of his swearing-in next month.
Source: Daily trust
