By Treasure Anneth
An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, Falana Oyewole, has declined his appointment as Special Assistant to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, citing concerns over the political representation of Erinje community.
Oyewole communicated his decision in a letter dated September 22, 2026, addressed to Governor Aiyedatiwa through the Secretary to the State Government.
In the letter, Oyewole thanked the governor for considering him for the position but said he decided to reject the appointment after consultations with his family and political leaders in Ode-Erinje.
He said the decision was linked to concerns among members of the community over what they consider inadequate representation in strategic political appointments under the current administration.
According to Oyewole, Erinje has not received what he considers a sufficiently strategic political appointment since the administration began, despite the community’s support for Aiyedatiwa and the APC.
He said the Special Assistant position was appreciated but was viewed by some members of the community as insufficient in light of their expectations for greater political representation.
Oyewole appealed to Governor Aiyedatiwa to review the distribution of political appointments and consider an indigene of Erinje for a more strategic position.
Oyewole Reaffirms Loyalty to Aiyedatiwa
Despite declining the appointment, Oyewole said his decision should not be interpreted as disloyalty to the governor.
He reaffirmed his support for Aiyedatiwa and prayed for the success of the administration.
The APC chieftain’s position centres on what he described as the need for Erinje to receive greater political recognition within the state government.
His claims about the community’s level of representation are his stated position and have not been independently established in the reports reviewed.
Aiyedatiwa’s Recent Appointments
Oyewole’s decision comes amid a broader round of appointments by the Ondo State Government.
In August, Aiyedatiwa approved the appointment of one commissioner, three special advisers, 90 senior special assistants and 910 special assistants as part of efforts to strengthen his administration.
The governor subsequently inaugurated newly appointed officials in September and charged them to deliver measurable results and improve service delivery across the state.
The latest development has brought renewed attention to the distribution of political appointments among communities and political interests in Okitipupa Local Government Area.
For Oyewole, however, the issue is not simply about accepting or rejecting an appointment, but about what he believes Erinje should receive in terms of political representation under the Aiyedatiwa administration.
