President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate withdrawal of the police from the Ondo State House of Assembly premises in Akure, the state capital.
Tinubu gave this order during a meeting with the embattled Ondo Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, State lawmakers, and All Progressives Congress (APC) members at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday night.
The decision to withdraw the police was made after almost six hours of discussions between the president and Ondo officials to resolve the political crisis in the state.
Previously, police officers had been stationed at the Ondo Assembly premises after lawmakers served Aiyedatiwa an impeachment notice due to alleged gross misconduct and abuse of office
The deputy governor went to court to challenge his impeachment. He later apologized to Governor Rotimi Akerdolu and asked for forgiveness for his “sins”, but the governor requested him to defend the allegations made against him.
The ongoing absence of Governor Akeredolu, following his return from a medical vacation abroad, has increased tensions in the state.
Last week, supporters of Aiyedatiwa threatened to protest if the governor did not resume his duties. They demanded that Aiyedatiwa be declared the acting governor as an alternative.
Notable individuals, including the Pan-Yoruba socio-political group called Afenifere and traditional rulers in the state, had requested the President’s intervention to prevent a constitutional crisis.
The political turmoil in the South West state reached its climax on Friday when the state lawmakers who supported the deputy governor were planning to appoint him as the acting governor.
However, the President decided to invite Aiyedatiwa, the state lawmakers, the state chairman of the party named Ade Adetimehin, and other party leaders from the state to Abuja in response to these appeals.
