ONDO CABINET: Governor AIYEDATIWA Has not in any manner violated the 1999 Constitution on Cabinet Formation, rather Ondo PDP goofs.
My attention has been drawn to recent comments repeatedly made by the Director of Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) suggesting that Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has violated the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the formation of his cabinet.
This allegation is completely unfounded and based on a fundamental misinterpretation of the law and as a Lawyer, l owe the public the duty to clarify the misrepresented provision of the Nigerian Constitution.
1. Section 192(6) of the Constitution, as amended by the Fifth Alteration Act, clearly provides that:
> “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.”
2. Governor Aiyedatiwa has fully complied with this provision. A nominee for Commissioner was submitted within the constitutionally stipulated 60-day period. Therefore, the government has met its legal obligation.
3. The Constitution does not mandate a minimum or maximum number of Commissioners to be appointed within this time frame. The use of the word “any” in Section 192(6) permits discretion in the number of nominees, as may be deemed necessary by the administration in line with its policy direction and the capacity of the House of Assembly to vet nominees.
4. The repeated reference by the opposition to a 90-day window is factually and legally incorrect. The law is clear: 60 days is the timeframe for nomination, not for a full cabinet appointment or swearing-in.
5. Threats of legal action based on this misinterpretation serve only to mislead the public and distract from serious governance issues. The government welcomes any legitimate legal challenge and remains confident that such actions will ultimately validate its strict adherence to constitutional processes.
Governor Aiyedatiwa remains committed to inclusive governance, administrative efficiency, and respect for the rule of law. The people of Ondo State deserve responsible and informed discourse, not political theatrics based on misreadings of the Constitution.
I want to urge the public to disregard any narrative that suggests a breach of constitutional duty, as it is patently false.
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Signed
Hon. Barr Banji Okunomo, Spokesperson to the Governor during the last Election
