There were clear indications on why the All Progressives Congress could not save the embattled Ondo state deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

This was evident when the Ondo State House of Assembly declared on Tuesday, October 3, that Aiyedatiwa had failed to respond to a notice served on him on September 25 concerning allegations of gross misconduct.

Speaker of the Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, revealed during the plenary that the notice had been received on behalf of Aiyedatiwa by his chief protocol officer.

Following a motion by the Majority Leader, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, concerning the Ondo State Impeachment Panel Procedure Rules, it was proposed that the panel should be constituted by the Chief Judge of the state.

The motion was seconded by Felix Afe (Akoko North West 2-PDP).

The speaker stated that the seven days allowed for Aiyedatiwa to respond to the allegations as stipulated by the constitution has lapsed.

He said that the resolution that the deputy governor be duly served the notice of allegations signed by 11 lawmakers was in line with Section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution.

Oladiji noted: “Concerted efforts were made to serve the Notice on the deputy governor, who for some time was not available for the service, prompting the House to approach the court for a substituted service on the deputy governor.

“On 25th of September, a substituted service of the Notice of Allegations was made on the deputy governor duly signed by more than one-third of Honourable Members of the House as required by the Constitution in Section 188 Sub-section 2.”

He, therefore directed Chief Judge of the State, Justice Olusegun Odusola, to immediately set up a seven-man panel to investigate Aiyedatiwa on the allegations levelled against him.

He stated: “Distinguished colleagues, Section 188 of the Constitution states further that the deputy governor has 7 days within which to reply to the allegations levelled against him.

“The Constitution states further that within seven days of the passing of a motion under the foregoing provisions of this section, the Chief Judge of the state shall at the request of the Speaker of the House of Assembly appoint a panel of seven persons.

“Distinguished colleagues, I, therefore, wish to seek your opinion to direct the Chief Judge of Ondo State, Hon. Justice Olusegun Odusola, to in line with this section of the Constitution, set up a seven-man panel to investigate the deputy governor on the allegations levelled against him.”

A total of 23 out of 26 members at the plenary session supported the speaker through a voice vote.

Some Ondo APC leaders who spoke to our reporter said the move by the national body of the APC to save Aiyedatiwa from being impeached would fail because all APC stakeholders in the state have agreed that Aiyedatiwa must go.

The state chairman of the Ondo APC, Ade Adetimehin, said the state chapter would work with the national body for possible resolution of the impasse.

A source said many aides who sided with Aiyedatiwa especially those already penciled to be Deputy Governor, Chief of Staff, SSG would soon be sacked.