The Ondo State Government has debunked claims by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa breached the 1999 Constitution in the process of forming his cabinet.
Reacting to the PDP’s repeated assertions, Barrister Banji Okunomo, a legal practitioner and spokesperson to the governor during the last election, described the allegation as a misinterpretation of the law and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Okunomo argued that the constitutionally required steps had been followed in nominating a commissioner, contrary to the PDP’s position.
He explained that Section 192(6) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended by the Fifth Alteration Act, clearly states: “The nomination of any person for appointment as a Commissioner of the Government of a State shall be made not later than sixty days after the date the Governor has taken the oath of office.”
According to him, Governor Aiyedatiwa submitted a nomination within the stipulated 60-day window, thereby complying fully with the constitutional requirement.
“The law does not specify the number of commissioners to be appointed within that period,” Okunomo said. “The use of the word ‘any’ in the Constitution gives the governor the discretion to nominate as many or as few commissioners as deemed necessary, depending on the administration’s priorities and the capacity of the House of Assembly to screen nominees.”
He also clarified that references to a 90-day timeline by the opposition were inaccurate, stating that the law only provides a 60-day timeframe for nomination, not for full cabinet formation or swearing-in of appointees.
Describing the PDP’s threat of legal action as politically motivated, Okunomo maintained that the governor had acted within the bounds of the law and that any legal challenge would only serve to reinforce the government’s adherence to constitutional principles.
“Governor Aiyedatiwa is committed to inclusive governance, administrative efficiency, and the rule of law. The people of Ondo State deserve informed, responsible dialogue—not politically driven narratives that twist the law for convenience,” he stated.
He urged the public to disregard what he called baseless accusations, reaffirming the administration’s readiness to welcome any judicial review of its actions.
