Lucky Aiyedatiwa has officially assumed office as the Governor of Ondo State, marking the beginning of his first full four-year term following the passing of former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu in December 2023.
The inauguration took place on Monday at the Ondo State Sports Complex in Akure, the state capital, two months after Aiyedatiwa secured victory in the governorship election under the All Progressives Congress (APC). His running mate, Olayide Adelami, was also sworn in before Aiyedatiwa took the oath of office as Ondo State’s seventh governor.
Following the ceremony, Aiyedatiwa rode in an open-top vehicle, waving to an enthusiastic crowd of supporters.
Path to the Government House
Aiyedatiwa’s journey to the governorship was marked by a competitive election, where he faced Agboola Ajayi, a former deputy governor who ran under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He secured victory in the November 16, 2024, governorship election, as announced by Returning Officer Olayemi Akinwumi, the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja.
The APC candidate won decisively, polling 366,781 votes, more than triple the 117,845 votes secured by his closest opponent, Ajayi. The final results showed that the APC dominated the election, winning in all 18 local government areas of the state.
Aiyedatiwa had initially stepped into the role of governor on December 27, 2023, following the death of Rotimi Akeredolu. Before his passing, Akeredolu had formally transferred power to Aiyedatiwa as acting governor due to health challenges.
Aiyedatiwa later secured the APC’s nomination for the 2024 governorship election, defeating 17 other candidates, including Ajayi, who had served as deputy governor during Akeredolu’s first term.
Who is Lucky Aiyedatiwa?
Born on January 12, 1965, in Obe-Nla, an oil-rich community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, Aiyedatiwa has a diverse educational and professional background.
He attended Saint Peter’s Primary School in Obe-Nla before completing his secondary education at Ikosi High School in Ketu, Lagos, in 1982. His academic qualifications include:
Nigeria Certificate in Education (Economics and Government) – Lagos State College of Education (1986)
Advanced Diploma in Business Administration – University of Ibadan (2001)
Postgraduate Certificate in Chief Executive Education – Lagos Business School (2009)
Master of Business Administration (MBA) – University of Liverpool (2013)
Before joining politics, Aiyedatiwa built a career across multiple industries, including education, pharmaceuticals, finance, and general trading. In 1996, he founded Blue Wall Group of Companies, which specialized in trading, foreign exchange, and travel logistics.
His political career began in 2011 under the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which later merged into the APC. He served as Federal Commissioner representing Ondo State on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) from 2018 to 2019.
In 2020, he was elected Deputy Governor alongside Akeredolu and later took over as governor after Akeredolu’s demise.
Akeredolu’s Legacy and Passing
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who passed away at the age of 67 on December 27, 2023, had battled prostate cancer for several years. Before his passing, he officially handed over power to Aiyedatiwa, ensuring a smooth transition.
With his inauguration complete, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa now faces the task of leading Ondo State into a new era, with expectations high for governance, economic growth, and infrastructure development.
