32 Facts About Rotimi Akeredolu

Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu was a Nigerian lawyer and politician who served as governor of Ondo State from 2017 until his death in 2023.

Rotimi Akeredolu's adopted prefix was "Arakunrin", while his nickname was "Aketi".

Rotimi Akeredolu was a Senior Advocate of Nigeria who became president of the Nigerian Bar Association in 2008.

On 21 July 2020, Rotimi Akeredolu was declared as the Ondo governorship candidate after the primary elections under the platform of the APC.

Rotimi Akeredolu started his primary education at Government Primary School in Owo.

Rotimi Akeredolu proceeded to Aquinas College in Akure, Loyola College in Ibadan and Comprehensive High School, Ayetoro, for his secondary school education and Higher School Certificate, respectively.

Rotimi Akeredolu went on to the University of Ife to study Law and he graduated in 1977.

Rotimi Akeredolu was referred to the Nigerian Law School in 1978.

Rotimi Akeredolu was appointed Attorney General of Ondo State from 1997 to 1999.

Rotimi Akeredolu was Chairman of the Legal Aid Council.

On 4 February 2022, Rotimi Akeredolu was named Grand Patron of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency by its chairman, retired Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa.

In November 2011, Rotimi Akeredolu was among a crowd of aspirants to be the Action Congress of Nigeria candidate for governor of Ondo State in the 2012 elections.

Rotimi Akeredolu would provide free education and primary health care.

Rotimi Akeredolu was in favour of increased subsidies and greater local control over public spending.

On 28 July 2012, Rotimi Akeredolu was selected as the Action Congress of Nigeria candidate for governor of Ondo State during the ACN congress in Akure.

Rotimi Akeredolu's selection pitched him in a head-to-head battle with the incumbent, Olusegun Mimiko and Olusola Oke of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Rotimi Akeredolu promised to create 30,000 jobs in his first 100 days in office.

Rotimi Akeredolu's promise was refuted by the as a ruse.

On 3 September 2016, Rotimi Akeredolu was awarded the ticket to represent the newly merged All Progressives Congress in the 2016 elections for Governor.

On 27 November 2016, Rotimi Akeredolu was announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission as the winner of the Ondo State governorship election.

Rotimi Akeredolu amassed 244,842 votes in the election to defeat Eyitayo Jegede of the Peoples Democratic Party with 150,380 votes and Olusola Oke of the Alliance for Democracy with 126,889 votes.

Rotimi Akeredolu was sworn in as the governor of Ondo State on 24 February 2017 in Akure, the Ondo State Capital.

On 29 July 2020, Rotimi Akeredolu picked Lucky Aiyedatiwa as his running mate for the 2020 Ondo State Governorship election after the controversy between the Governor and his deputy, Agboola Ajayi.

Rotimi Akeredolu was declared winner of the 2020 Ondo Governorship election on 11 October 2020, after winning 15 out of 18 local governments.

Rotimi Akeredolu won with a total number of 292,830 valid votes against his major opponents from the Peoples Democratic Party and the Zenith Labour Party, Eyitayo Jegede and Agboola Ajayi respectively.

Rotimi Akeredolu was sworn in for a second term in office on 24 February 2021.

Rotimi Akeredolu advocated for the payment of taxes in the state to help boost the economy of the state and fulfilments of obligations.

Rotimi Akeredolu decamped to PDP following party disputes.

In June 2022, Rotimi Akeredolu called the Owo church attack against Catholics in Ondo "satanic".

Rotimi Akeredolu was latterly starting up a sea port project in Ondo state and stated that his administration was committed to the completion of the project, which was initiated in his first term, saying the port would not only serve Nigeria but the whole of West Africa once built.

Rotimi Akeredolu was undergoing treatment for leukaemia from January 2023, and had a long period of medical absence.

On 12 December 2023, in advance of another period of medical leave, Rotimi Akeredolu signed the notice appointing deputy governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as acting governor of the state.