Agboola Ajayi, a prominent figure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the party’s gubernatorial candidate for the upcoming Ondo election, has called on the National Assembly to amend the Constitution to specify the responsibilities of a deputy governor.
Speaking on Tuesday’s edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today, Ajayi emphasized the need for clarity in the constitutional duties of deputy governors, often dubbed as “spare tyres.”
He highlighted the current limitations faced by deputy governors, stating, “You can only function at the discretion of your principal, and he assigns roles to you. If he feels like he does not want to play with you, that’s fine.”
Ajayi proposed amending the law to grant deputy governors a defined constitutional role to enhance their relevance, emphasizing the joint nature of the governor-deputy governor ticket.
Over the years, Nigeria’s political landscape has witnessed conflicts between governors and their deputies, with relationships often strained and deputies accused of overstepping their bounds. Some deputies have been replaced before the end of their tenures, while others have faced impeachment.
Ajayi, however, pledges to redefine the governor-deputy governor relationship if elected in the Ondo governorship election, promising to keep his deputy governor actively engaged in government affairs to demonstrate their integral role.
He emphasized the importance of addressing the recurring conflicts between governors and deputies, advocating for a strengthened and more effective deputy governor’s office while dismissing concerns of power usurpation.
