April 29, (THEWILL)- With the Labour Party in Ondo State grounded by the post-convention leadership crisis in the party and other fringe political parties unable to organise primaries, the contest for Alabiaka House is a straight fight between the governing All Progressives Congress, APC, and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Even so, the LP organised a primary election on Friday, April 26, 2024 that ended in a fiasco. Prince Joseph Ojajuni told THEWILL that he contested in the party’s primary after paying N3.5 million into the party’s account, though he was told that only N1.5 million was received and he ended up losing to Ayo Olorunfemi who was declared winner by Olawale Okunniyi.
He said, “Before the poll started, Otunba CYF, who also said he deposited N2million into the party’s account, and I were asked to step down for Olorunfemi who failed to show evidence of payment when we challenged him. We will not let this injustice stand.”
The National Publicity Secretary of the LP, Mr Obiora Ifo, did not answer his phone call when our correspondent tried to reach him. A party source, however, confided in THEWILL that since the Nigeria Labour Congress had sacked the leadership of the party that emerged from the controversial convention, which INEC did not attend, the Ondo primary was a sham.
What is therefore going to take place in Ondo is a straight fight between Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and former Deputy Governor to late Oluwarotima Akeredolu in his first term, 2017 to 2021, Agboola Ajayi.
But the APC is a divided house currently. And the PDP has a lot of work to do as both candidates come from the same south senatorial district, thereby giving the electorate there no alternative choice to make.
Aiyedatiwa, who emerged as the APC’s flag bearer in a primary election that is still being contested by other aspirants who feel cheated by the conduct and outcome of the exercise, is yet to show the olive branch to the aggrieved parties.
Senator Jimoh Ibrahim articulated the grievances in his petition to the Petition Committee headed by former Bauchi governor, Mohammed Abubakar.
“Ground one, non-compliance with your rules. I paid the sum of N100m for the validation of over 40 thousand party members and those members were not allowed to be revalidated across Ondo State. This was because no voter register was made available in the wards to which members could be validated
“On ground two, no electoral material was provided for the conduct of the election.
“Ground three, non-accreditation of agents.” The fourth ground he presented was on gross misconduct.
Three other aspirants who petitioned the committee are Adewale Akinterinwa and Isaac Kekemeke and Judith Omogoroye. The leadership of the party is appealing to the losers and asking them to support Aiyedatiwa.
Apart from Ibrahim who appeared at a reconciliation committee hosted by the National Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Ganduje, in Abuja, Akinterinwa and Kekemeke were absent at the meeting, showing that his appeal for the aggrieved to reconcile with the verdict and close ranks behind the winner is yet to hit the right chord.
In attendance at the parley that was later held behind closed doors were Governor Aiyedatiwa, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Olusola Oke, Professor Francis Faduyile, Dr Funmi Waheed-Adekojo, Dr Soji Ehinlanwo, Akinfolarin Samuel, Okunjimi Odimayo, Olugbenga Edema, General Ohunyeye Olamide, Morayo Lebi, Garvey Iyanjan, Ifeoluwa Oyedele and Judith Omogoroye.
The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of APC, Hon. Duro Meseko, gave an insight into how the party would ride the post-primary election storm in the state; placating the losers through some accommodation in the administration of the government.
He said: “there is the need for the party to continue dialogue with all the aspirants individually and collectively in order to have a common ground for the forthcoming election in the state to be able to work together as a united family.
“It was also agreed that Aiyedatiwa should immediately work towards instituting what is called an inclusive government in the state by involving all the other aspirants. Of course, most of the aspirants will not be able to participate in his government, but they have people that will participate. He should allow them to make inputs and work with them in order to be able to move the state forward.”
How the governor goes about doing that in the days ahead will determine to a large extent the aggrieved aspirants’ next move.
Ajayi, who emerged as the candidate of the PDP after he polled 264 votes to defeat six other aspirants, comes from the South Senatorial zone, which stakeholders agreed should produce the next governor of the state and has a serving governor from the same zone to contend with.
In another show of strength, APC controls the three senatorial seats and eight of the nine Federal Constituencies seats at the National Assembly. The party also controlled 22 out of the 26 members in the Ondo State House of Assembly, leaving four to PDP.
But Bamidele Oloyeloogun, a former Speaker of the House of Assembly, is unimpressed by these numbers. He said the APC may lose the November 16 governorship election if the last primary is not cancelled.
Oloyelogun was the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly between 2017 and 2023, and represented Ifedore State Constituency from 2011 to 2023, warned, “As a leader in APC in Ondo State, l want to warn that if the purported April 20 primary is not cancelled, APC will lose the November 16 governorship election.
“It is on record, including that of the Independent National Electoral Commission, that there was no ward out of the 203 wards in the state that election was held; they just manufactured figures.
“As someone who has contested election four times and won, I know the implications of the charade called primary election on Saturday.
“Those who came to Ondo State to perpetrate this evil called primary against our members should be held accountable when the chips are down and the seed germinates in November.”
The Attorney-General of Ondo State and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Olukayode Ajulo, disagrees, saying, “Although Governor Aiyedatiwa enjoyed and still enjoys an overwhelming support of the masses, party faithful and major stakeholders within and outside the state, as evident in his landslide victory, we cannot take away the place of law, which puts to rest any issue that may arise, with regards to the conduct of last Saturday’s election.”
About the Author
Amos Esele is the Deputy Editor of THEWILL Newspaper. He has over two decades of experience on the job.
