Some leaders of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State have insisted that Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa should be empowered as acting governor of the state.
This is coming hours after President Bola Tinubu intervened in the political crisis rocking the state.
According to the APC chieftains, who are operating under the aegis of Ondo APC Progressives Stakeholders, in Akure, Aiyedatiwa should take over as Acting Governor in accordance with constitutional provisions towards resolving the political imbroglio in the state.
Tinubu had called for the maintenance of the status quo, urging Aiyedatiwa to continue as the deputy governor.
But the Ondo APC stakeholders, after their meeting in Akure, expressed concerns over the continued absence of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, stating that the development has adversely affected the governance and economy of the state.
In a statement issued after the meeting and signed by the Chairman, a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Afe Olowookere, and Secretary, Hon. Raman Rotimi, who was also a former APC Secretary in the state, the House of Assembly should urgently empower Aiyedatiwa to assume the responsibilities of the acting governor of the state.
The statement read, “APC party members should be allowed to participate and determine those to be appointed or elected into political and party offices.
“Elders and leaders of the party must be recognised and given their pride of place in the party, rather than being neglected and ostracised by the party.
“The system of writing the names of party executives and candidates without due process will be objected to and resisted with all political and legal means possible.”