Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A fresh wave of political tension is rocking the Ondo State Government House as allegations of financial withholding, political marginalisation, and a widening gulf between Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Dr Olayide Adelami, have sparked renewed speculation about the stability of the state's executive leadership. At the centre of the controversy are claims that more than ₦180 million in statutory entitlements, including running expenses and travelling allowances, have remained unpaid to the Deputy Governor for about eight months, while the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs has increasingly handled matters traditionally falling within the Deputy Governor's operational sphere without carrying his office along.
According to a report published by Sunshine Truth NG on August 17, 2026, the relationship between Governor Aiyedatiwa and Deputy Governor Adelami is attracting renewed scrutiny amid allegations of growing political isolation and the gradual sidelining of the Deputy Governor from matters traditionally associated with his office. The allegations specifically point to the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs Omomumi Isaac, as having withheld the payments, although the circumstances surrounding the alleged non-payment and the positions of the Governor and the Commissioner remain issues requiring clarification. Sources within government circles have further disclosed that the Commissioner for Finance had, several months ago, formally written to the Deputy Governor, informing him that the state government could no longer sustain the payment of his travelling allowances, despite the fact that a significant proportion of his official trips were undertaken at the direction of, and on behalf of, the Governor.
The financial allegations are compounded by claims that the Deputy Governor has been excluded from key political appointments, including positions within the State Executive Council, local government structures, and ward-level political arrangements. Particularly striking is the allegation that the Deputy Governor was not permitted to influence the selection of a councillor representing his ward, with the process allegedly influenced by the Commissioner for Finance. To many politicians, such a development raises fundamental questions about the practical influence and political relevance of the second-highest-ranking elected official in the state. The Deputy Governor's supporters are said to view the situation as a deliberate attempt to reduce his political space and render his office increasingly ceremonial.
Another major point of contention is the alleged involvement of the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro, in matters said to fall within the operational sphere of the Deputy Governor. According to the allegations, the Commissioner has increasingly handled issues relating to local government and chieftaincy without adequately carrying the Deputy Governor's office along, despite the fact that local government and chieftaincy matters have traditionally been areas in which the Deputy Governor plays an important coordinating and supervisory role. The reported bypassing of the Deputy Governor has fuelled speculation that there is a widening gulf between the two offices.
Perhaps the most visible indication of the reported strain is the allegation that the Deputy Governor has stopped attending the Night of Praise organised by the Governor every month and Sunday service at the Government House Chapel in recent months. Such programmes are not merely religious gatherings within the Government House environment; they can also serve as informal occasions for members of the administration to interact and demonstrate institutional unity. The alleged absence of the Deputy Governor has consequently been interpreted by some observers as a possible manifestation of deeper tensions within the administration.
The situation also raises a broader question about the treatment of the Deputy Governor and the principles of fairness and mutual respect expected within the highest office of the state. Observers have noted the irony that some of the very circumstances that many people had supported Aiyedatiwa in challenging when he served as deputy to the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu now appear, according to these allegations, to be resurfacing under his administration. Governor Aiyedatiwa had previously dismissed rumours of an impeachment plot against his deputy, describing the claims as baseless speculation and affirming his deputy's loyalty. However, the reported deterioration in the relationship is likely to continue attracting attention, particularly if the alleged financial obligations remain unresolved and the Deputy Governor continues to be excluded from important governmental and political activities.
For now, there is no publicly established evidence that Governor Aiyedatiwa has formally sought the removal or impeachment of his Deputy Governor. Any suggestion of an impending impeachment should therefore be treated as speculation unless supported by concrete political or legislative action. Nevertheless, the allegations against the Governor, the Commissioner for Finance, and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs are serious and deserve clear responses from the relevant authorities. Until those involved publicly clarify the situation, questions will persist over whether the reported marginalisation of Deputy Governor Adelami reflects ordinary political differences, a deeper breakdown in the Governor-Deputy Governor relationship, or something more fundamental about the functioning of Ondo State's executive arm.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments