Akeredolu, two other governors who died in office 

On Wednesday, Rotimi Akeredolu passed away after months of battling with leukemia in Germany. 

The 67-year-old governor’s demise led to the swearing-in of his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as the new Executive Governor of the state yesterday. 

Akeredolu now joins the unfortunate ranks of Nigerian governors who passed away in office, following Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State and Mamman Ali of Yobe State.

2017-2023: Rotimi Akeredolu, Ondo State

Akeredolu was declared the winner of the Ondo State governorship election on November 27, 2016, by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), securing 244,842 votes. He triumphed over his closest rivals, Eyitayo Jegede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with 150,380 votes and Olusola Oke of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) with 126,889 votes.

READ ALSO: President Tinubu mourns Akeredolu 

Subsequently, he assumed office as governor on February 24, 2017. Akeredolu sought re-election in the 2020 Ondo State governorship election, emerging victorious in the APC primary against contenders such as Olusola Oke, Isaac Kekemeke, Jimi Odimayo, Segun Abraham, and others.

Akeredolu secured his reelection on Saturday, October 10, 2020, garnering 292,830 votes against his main rivals from the PDP and the Zenith Labour Party, Eyitayo Jegede and Agboola Ajayi, respectively.

His second term commenced on February 24, 2021, as he took the oath of office alongside his new deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

Akeredolu had been absent from office since June 2023, officially handing over power to Aiyedatiwa and embarking on a 21-day medical leave in Germany.

READ ALSO: UPDATED: Governor Akeredolu is dead 

The leave, initially scheduled to conclude on July 6, 2023, was subsequently prolonged indefinitely while the governor underwent ongoing treatment in Germany.

Upon his return to Nigeria on September 6, he resumed activities at his private residence in Ibadan, Oyo State, seeking recovery amidst persistent governance challenges in Ondo.

Tragically, he passed away on December 27, 2023.

2010-2012: Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa – Kaduna State, Kaduna State:

Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa served as the governor of Kaduna State until his untimely death in a helicopter crash. His gubernatorial tenure spanned from 2010 to 2012.

READ ALSO: Obaseki mourns Akeredolu

Initially assuming the role of deputy governor in July 2005, Yakowa later reclaimed his position as Kaduna’s second-in-command in the April 2007 election. Subsequently, on 20 May 2010, he was sworn in as governor, succeeding former Governor Namadi Sambo, who had been sworn in as vice president the day before.

On December 15, 2012, Yakowa tragically lost his life in a helicopter crash, accompanied by the former National Security Adviser, General Owoye Andrew Azazi (rtd). The fatal incident took place during their flight from Bayelsa State to Port Harcourt, following their attendance at the funeral of Oronto Douglas’ father in Bayelsa.

Among the victims of the helicopter crash were Dauda Tsoho and Mohammed Kamal, both aides, along with the two pilots, Muritala Mohammed Daba and Adeyemi Sowole.

Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, the deputy of Yakowa, was sworn in as the new governor of the state the following day by Justice Rahila Cudjoe, the state Chief Judge.

READ ALSO: Governor Akeredolu’s death a painful loss – Speaker Abbas

2007-2009: Mamman Bello Ali, Yobe State:

Mamman Bello Ali served as the representative for Yobe South Senatorial District from 1999 to 2007, also holding the position of chairman for the Senate Committee on Public Account during that time.

In 2007, he secured victory in the Yobe governorship election under the now-defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and remained in office until his passing in 2009. His demise occurred due to leukemia while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Florida, United States.