In a meticulously orchestrated political maneuver that exposed the iron grip of Nigeria’s unwritten zoning traditions, Ondo State’s legislative leadership underwent a seismic realignment Tuesday. Deputy Speaker Abayomi Akinruntan and Majority Leader Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi surrendered their powerful positions in a choreographed resignation ballet, revealing the supremacy of geographical power-sharing over individual political merit in the state’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) .
At precisely 10:00 AM during Tuesday’s plenary, Speaker Olamide Oladiji received the political equivalent of a controlled detonation. Clerk Benjamin Jayeiola solemnly read Akinruntan’s resignation letter—absent from the session—which explicitly tied his departure to “align with the conventional arrangement in power-sharing of elective positions”.
Ogunmolasuyi’s simultaneous stepping down, though verbally unexplained, echoed the same territorial calculus: both men hailed from local governments already holding top executive offices. Akinruntan (Ilaje) shared turf with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, while Ogunmolasuyi (Owo) mirrored Deputy Governor Olayide Adelami’s birthplace—a duplication that violated Ondo’s delicate political ecosystem.
Multiple legislative sources confirmed the resignations fulfilled an “unwritten zoning arrangement” ensuring no locality monopolizes power . Akinruntan’s status as son of the Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom, Oba Frederick Akinruntan—reportedly at odds with Governor Aiyedatiwa—added dynastic tension to the geopolitical equation.
Within minutes of the resignations, Speaker Oladiji executed a prearranged succession plan: Ololade Gbegudu (Okitipupa 2), a two-term legislator and Security Committee chair, nominated and sworn in unanimously as Deputy speaker. His Okitipupa base balances the southern power axis previously dominated by Ilaje. Olatunji Oshati (Ose) replaced Ogunmolasuyi, shifting influence to central Ondo, Muritala Sulaiman (Akoko South-East) as Chief Whip and Fabiyi Olatunji (Odigbo 1) as Whip completed a redistricting of influence across the state’s three senatorial zones .
