A former Senator representing the Ondo Central Senatorial District, Patrick Ayo Akinyelure, has issued a strong warning to Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa regarding the prospect of re-contesting for what he describes as a “3rd Term.” Akinyelure argues that any judicial interpretation allowing a governor to serve an additional term after completing a predecessor’s term would violate the Nigerian constitution, which limits gubernatorial tenure to a maximum of eight years.
In a recent social media post titled “Aiyedatiwa’s 3rd Term,” Akinyelure clarified his stance on the judicial interpretations of Section 182(3) of the Nigerian Constitution. He emphasized that “The maximum number of years a single person can spend as the Executive Governor of a State in Nigeria is maximum of 8 years or less in the case that a serving Deputy Governor succeeds and completes the terms of his Governor in case of sudden death of elected Governor of a State in Nigeria.”
Akinyelure further elaborated on the constitutional provisions, stating, “This is the clear reason behind the constitutional provisions of section 182(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended by Act No. 10 of 2018), which provides that: ‘A person who was sworn-in as Governor to complete the term of which another person was elected as Governor shall not be elected to such an office for more than a single term.’”
He firmly believes that any effort to reinterpret this provision would be misguided: “Any judicial interpretation to make a Governor qualify to be elected for a second term of another 4 years after he or she must have been sworn in to complete the term of his predecessor in office as Governor, that will be a clear contravention of the constitution for such person to govern a State in Nigeria for more than 8 years.”
Akinyelure challenged proponents of alternative interpretations with a critical question: “In case of Ondo State under reference, let the lawyers proposing several judicial interpretations to Section 182(3) of the Nigeria Constitution answer this single question whether it will be constitutional for Aiyedatiwa to govern Ondo State for 9 years if allowed to contest for another term of 4 years, instead of maximum of 8 years or less allowed a single person to Govern a State in Nigeria?”
He concluded by advising, “Let the Lawyers encouraging Governor Aiyedatiwa to contest for another term look for another Legal job to make fortunes.”
Akinyelure highlighted Aiyedatiwa’s political journey, noting, “Governor Aiyedatiwa is Lucky by his birth name, He is a stone that was rejected yesterday, but God Almighty crowned him to be Deputy Governor for 3 years and later sworn in as Governor for one year to complete the term of Governor Akeredolu in line with constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
He added, “By implication therefore, he must have served as Governor of Ondo State for 5 years continuously till 23rd February, 2029,” emphasizing that any attempt to extend his tenure through judicial means would be illegal.
With a call for respect for the constitution, Akinyelure urged Aiyedatiwa to focus on developmental projects, stating, “This is my advice and opinion as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria elected twice and represented Ondo Central in the Upper Chamber of National Assembly in the 7th and 9th Senate of Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
