Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo has denied being “in a state of extreme incapacity” despite his continued absence from public functions due to his health challenges.

Mr Akeredolu, who is currently on medical leave abroad, said he would soon resume duty immediately after his doctor certified him as fully fit to be back on his feet.

“Mr Governor is NOT incapacitated, he will return to his duty as soon as the doctors certify him fully fit to do so,” he said in a statement released by the spokesperson for the government, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, on Tuesday.

The denial came barely a few hours that a report was credited to the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Adamu, saying that the ailing Akeredolu was incapacitated and hospitalised overseas.

“…we regret to announce the extreme incapacity of the governor of Ondo state, who we understand has been hospitalised oversea. We wish and pray for him for a speedy recovery,” Mr Adamu was quoted to have said at a meeting between the national leadership of the party and APC state chairmen in Abuja.

Speaking further, Mr Akeredolu said the report credited to the APC national chairman was misrepresented in the media.

“It, therefore, smacks of mischief and unabashed abandonment of professional ethics for (a reporter) to present this gross misrepresentation, a mischievous twist, as news.

“At no time did the Chairman mention that the Governor was in a state of “extreme incapacity.

“He (Akeredolu) is, evidently, not in any critical state that should warrant this clearly reprehensible conduct as he still sent a post to the Executive Council Committee platform yesterday,” the statement further added.

On Tuesday, Mr Akeredolu wrote the State House of Assembly lawmakers to extend his medical leave. He asked that his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, should continue to act on his behalf.

The letter came days after the governor assured the residents of the state that he was in high spirits and had faith in the expertise of his doctors, who had advised him to rest more with a promise to resume soon.

Mr Akeredolu embarked on medical leave on June 6, 2023, and was expected to return on July 6, 2023.

Receiving the extension letter on behalf of the lawmakers, the Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, said the governor’s action was in line with Section 190 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

Peoples Gazette reported that Mr Akeredolu was seen briefly in public shortly after he returned to the state from his initial 15 working days of annual leave on May 1, 2023.

It was, however, gathered that the governor was allegedly treating “leukaemia” – an ailment known as cancer of the blood, caused by a rise in the number of white blood cells in the body while his ill-health continues to generate anxiety.