One of the phenomena in politics that often emerges is the culture of political succession, where a deputy governor or vice president takes over the position of their principal due to certain circumstances. This practice ensures that there is no power vacuum and that governance remains uninterrupted. Recently, Lucky Aiyedatiwa was installed as the governor of Ondo State following the passing of his principal, Rotimi Akeredolu. Aiyedatiwa now joins a group of deputy governors who have ascended to power without being elected.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s political journey is a testament to the occurrence of succession stories. Before becoming president after the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’adua, Jonathan experienced a similar situation as the deputy governor of Bayelsa State. He assumed the role of governor when his principal, Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, was impeached by the state assembly on charges of money laundering.
Patrick Yakowa made history as the first person from Southern Kaduna and the first Christian to become the governor of Kaduna State. This milestone was achieved through his position as the deputy governor of the state. When Jonathan became president, he nominated Namadi Sambo, the governor of Kaduna State at the time, as his vice president. This paved the way for Yakowa to be sworn in as the governor on May 20, 2010. He completed his principal’s tenure and went on to win an election for the position.
Virginia Ngozi Etiaba holds the distinction of being the first and only woman to serve as a governor of a Nigerian state. She assumed the role of governor of Anambra State after the impeachment of Peter Obi, her principal, by the state legislature over allegations of gross misconduct. Her governorship was short-lived as the Court of Appeal later nullified the impeachment, prompting her to transfer powers back to Obi.
Christopher Alao-Akala’s political journey also involved a period of succession. He served as the deputy governor of Oyo State from 2003 to 2006 before succeeding his principal, Rashidi Ladoja, following Ladoja’s impeachment by the state legislators. However, Ladoja successfully contested his removal in court and was reinstated in December 2006. Akala then returned to his role as the deputy governor but later ran against and defeated Ladoja in the 2007 election.
Bala James Ngilari became the governor of Adamawa State after the removal of Governor Murtala Nyako by the state House of Assembly. Nyako was impeached on grounds of gross financial misconduct. Although Nyako’s impeachment was reversed by the Supreme Court in December 2016, Ngilari had already served out his term since May 2015, and the court declined to reinstate Nyako.
Most recently, Lucky Aiyedatiwa assumed the position of governor of Ondo State following the death of his principal, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who had handed power to Aiyedatiwa before seeking medical treatment in Germany. Aiyedatiwa was sworn into office and will serve as governor until the end of the term in 2025.
These instances of deputy governors succeeding their principals highlight the importance of a smooth transition of power to avoid any disruption in governance. While the circumstances may vary, the underlying goal remains the same: to maintain stability and ensure effective leadership.
