Ondo Governor Aiyedatiwa Dismisses All Political Aides, Plans 1,000 New Appointments
In a sweeping administrative move, Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has terminated the appointments of all political aides in his administration with immediate effect. The dissolution, announced on Tuesday, affects all Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) and Special Assistants (SAs) across the state, marking a significant restructuring effort.
Statement from the Governor's Office
According to a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ebenezer Adeniyan, and made available to The Guardian, this development is part of an ongoing drive to improve efficiency and enhance service delivery within the state's administrative framework. Adeniyan emphasized that the dismissal precedes an expansion of the governor's political team, with plans to appoint around 1,000 new aides.
The statement read in parts, "In the ongoing drive to enhance efficiency and deepen service delivery, Ondo State Governor, Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has relieved all political aides of their duties with immediate effect. Those affected are Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants to the Governor. The Governor thanked them for their contributions to the development of the State thus far and wished them well in their future endeavours."
Plans for New Appointments
Furthermore, the statement added, "Meanwhile, in a step to strengthen coordination and inject fresh capacity into the administration, about 1000 new aides, from across the 203 wards in the 18 local government areas of the State, will be appointed by the Governor in due course." This move aims to bolster grassroots representation and administrative effectiveness.
Background and Context
Prior to this mass disengagement, the administration had faced a series of voluntary resignations from some aides ahead of the 2027 general election cycle, indicating a period of transition. It is recalled that in September 2024, Governor Aiyedatiwa had appointed at least 344 Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants to serve across the 18 local government areas, 33 local council development areas (LCDAs), and 203 wards in the state. The current action represents a dramatic shift from that earlier appointment spree.
The decision underscores the governor's commitment to restructuring his team for better performance, as he seeks to align his administration with evolving political and service delivery goals. Observers note that such moves are often strategic in Nigerian politics, especially as election cycles approach, to consolidate support and refresh leadership cadres.
