Lucky Aiyedatiwa is now the official governor of Ondo State for a full four-year term. He was sworn in on Monday, February 24, 2025, at a ceremony in Akure, the state’s capital. Aiyedatiwa first became governor in 2023 after his boss, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, died while still in office. He later won a tough election in November 2024 to keep the job.
Aiyedatiwa’s journey to power wasn’t smooth. He started as Akeredolu’s deputy but stepped in as temporary governor in late 2023 when Akeredolu fell sick. After Akeredolu’s death, he became the official governor. In the 2024 election, he scored over 366,000 votes, beating his closest rival, Agboola Ajayi, who got about 117,000 votes.
To mark his swearing-in, Aiyedatiwa pardoned 43 prisoners as a gesture of goodwill. The move comes as he promises to focus on uniting the state and tackling its challenges. Many now watch to see how he’ll lead Ondo after a rocky path to the top job.