The governor of Ondo State is the head of government of Ondo State in Nigeria. The governor is the head of the executive branch of the Ondo State Government. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Ondo State House of Assembly, to convene the legislature and grant pardons.
| Governor of Ondo State | |
|---|---|
 Seal of Ondo State | |
 Flag of Ondo State | |
since 27 December 2023 | |
| Executive Branch of the Ondo State Government | |
| Style |
|
| Type | |
| Member of |
|
| Residence | Ondo State Government House |
| Seat | Akure |
| Appointer | Direct popular election or via succession from deputy governorship |
| Term length | Four years renewable once |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of Nigeria |
| Inaugural holder | Ita David Ikpeme |
| Formation | 3 February 1976 |
| Deputy | Deputy Governor of Ondo State |
| Website | ondostate |
When Ondo State was created from the Western State in 1976, Group Captain Ita David Ikpeme was appointed its first governor. Olusegun Mimiko served the longest term as governor, serving for two consecutive terms of 4 years from 2009 to 2017.[1]
Since the creation of the state in 1976, 19 people have served as governor, 12 military governors and 7 civilian governors. Brigadier General Raji Rasaki served the shortest term in office of 7 months.
The current governor is Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who was sworn in on 27 December 2023 following the death of Rotimi Akeredolu.[2][3]
Governors
editMilitary governors (1976–1979)
editOndo State was created on 3 February 1976 and General Olusegun Obasanjo appointed Ita David Ikpeme as military governor on 17 March 1976.
| Governor | Term of office | Party | Ref. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Portrait | Name (birth–death) |
Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||
| 1 | 
|
Group Captain Ita David Ikpeme |
17 March 1976 | 24 July 1978 | 2 years, 129 days | Military | |
| 2 |
|
Brigadier Sunday Tuoyo (1935–2022) |
24 July 1978 | 1 October 1979 | 1 year, 69 days | ||
Second Republic (1979–1983)
editUnder the 1979 Constitution, the second constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the governor was both head of state and government. The governor was elected for a four-year term. In the event of a vacancy the deputy governor would have served as acting governor.
| Governor | Term of office | Political party | Elected | Ref. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Portrait | Name (birth–death) |
Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
| 3 | 
|
Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin (1908–1997) |
1 October 1979 | 31 December 1983 | 4 years, 91 days | Unity Party of Nigeria | 1979 1983 |
|
Military governors (1984–1992)
editMajor General Muhammadu Buhari was made military head of state following the coup d'ètat of 1983, which overthrew the Second Republic. He appointed his military governors in January 1984. He was in turn overthrown by General Ibrahim Babangida on 27 August 1985.
| Governor | Term of office | Party | Ref. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Portrait | Name (birth–death) |
Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||
| 4 |
|
Commodore Michael Bamidele Otiko (1934–1999) |
2 January 1984 | 2 September 1985 | 1 year, 7 months | Military | |
| 5 |
|
Navy Captain Michael Okhai Akhigbe (1946–2013) |
2 September 1985 | 26 August 1986 | 11 months | ||
| 6 |
|
Colonel Ekundayo B. Opaleye (1946–2023) |
26 August 1986 | 17 December 1987 | 1 year, 3 months | ||
| 7 |
|
Brigadier General Raji Alagbe Rasaki (born 1947) |
17 December 1987 | July 1988 | 7 months | ||
| 8 |
|
Commodore Bode George (born 1945) |
July 1988 | 3 September 1990 | 2 years, 1 month | ||
| 9 |
|
Navy Captain Sunday Abiodun Olukoya (1949–2021) |
3 September 1990 | 3 January 1992 | 1 year, 4 months | ||
Third Republic (1992–1993)
editUnder the 1979 Constitution, the second constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the governor was both head of state and government. The governor was elected for a four-year term. In the event of a vacancy the deputy governor would have served as acting governor.
| Governor | Term of office | Political party | Elected | Ref. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Portrait | Name (birth–death) |
Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
| 10 |
|
Bamidele Olumilua (1940–2020) |
3 January 1992 | 17 November 1993 | 1 year, 318 days | Social Democratic Party | 1991 | |
Military administrators (1993–1999)
editGeneral Sani Abacha led the palace coup d'ètat of 1993 which overthrew the Third Republic. He appointed his military administrators in December 1993.
| Administrator | Term of office | Party | Ref. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Portrait | Name (birth–death) |
Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||
| 11 |
|
Colonel Mike Torey (1950–2013) |
9 December 1993 | September 1994 | 9 months | Military | |
| 12 |
|
Colonel Ahmed Usman (1951–2021) |
September 1994 | 22 August 1996 | 1 year, 11 months | ||
| 13 |
|
Navy Captain Anthony Onyearugbulem (1955–2002) |
22 August 1996 | 7 August 1998 | 1 year, 11 months | ||
| 14 |
|
Colonel Moses Fasanya |
7 August 1998 | 29 May 1999 | 9 months | ||
Fourth Republic (1999–present)
editUnder the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the governor is both head of state and government. The governor is elected for a four-year term. In the event of a vacancy, the deputy governor would serve as acting governor.
| Governor | Term of office | Political party | Elected | Ref. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Portrait | Name (birth–death) |
Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
| 15 |
|
Chief Adebayo Adefarati (1931–2007) |
29 May 1999 | 29 May 2003 | 4 years | Alliance for Democracy | 1999 | |
| 16 |
|
Olusegun Agagu (1948–2013) |
29 May 2003 | 23 February 2009 | 5 years, 270 days | Peoples Democratic Party | 2003 2007 |
|
| 17 | 
|
Olusegun Mimiko (born 1954) |
24 February 2009 | 24 February 2017 | 8 years | Labour Party Peoples Democratic Party |
2012 | |
| 18 | Rotimi Akeredolu (1956–2023) |
24 February 2017 | 27 December 2023 | 6 years, 306 days | All Progressives Congress | 2016 2020 |
||
| 19 |
|
Lucky Aiyedatiwa (born 1965) |
27 December 2023 | Incumbent | 323 days | All Progressives Congress | ||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Mimiko sworn-in for second term". The Nation. 24 February 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
- ^ "JUST IN: Rotimi Akeredolu, Ondo governor, dies at 67". The Cable. 27 December 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ^ "Governor Akeredolu goes on another medical leave". Premium Times Nigeria. 12 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
- "Nigerian Federal States". WorldStatesmen. Retrieved 30 November 2009.
- Ezra Ijioma (1 November 2009). "And the Curtain Falls". Daily Champion. Retrieved 9 November 2009.
- Yemi Akintomide (27 February 2009). "Ondo – Agagu Out, Mimiko in". Daily Independent. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
External links
edit- "Nigeria death fails to halt poll", BBC News, March 29, 2007.