Politics
Ondo 2020: Deputy Gov Allegedly Dumps Akeredolu As Campaign Materials Emerge
The ongoing rift between the Ondo State Deputy Governor, Hon. Agboola Ajayi and his boss, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu may have finally worsened following the campaign posters and jingles of the deputy governor which have surfaced on social media.
The campaign messages, sponsored by Agboola Ajayi Grassroots Network, flooded social media, amidst the palpable fear and uncertainty occasioned by the wide spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
There have been rumours within the political circle in the state that the Deputy Governor would be contesting against his boss, the current Governor Akeredolu, under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Meanwhile, reactions have been trailing the move amidst the COVID-19 concerns in the state.
The Deputy Governor is said to be eyeing the PDP ticket with the member of the House of Representatives from Akure South/North federal constituency, Hon. Omolafe Adedayo as his deputy.
Confirming the development, a top source within the state’s political circle who craved anonymity, said it was certain that the Deputy Governor had from the inception of his joint ticket with his boss, been eyeing the governorship seat.
Politics
LP Crisis: Ex-NWC Member Dumps Dumps Abure Faction
Mr Ojukwu, who recently returned to the interim National Working Committee led by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, noted that the party had 34 elected members in the House of Representatives, eight Senators, and 80 members at the state Houses of Assembly after the 2023 general elections.
“Now we lost all of them,” he said. “I don’t think we have as many as five members in the National Assembly.”
The former national officer of the LP talked to journalists in Abuja and said he chose to join the caretaker committee led by Senator Nenadi-Usman because they are now the officially recognized leaders of the Party.
“I chose to work with the caretaker committee to help save the Labour Party, for the benefit of the party. I also want to use this chance to ask my colleagues at the national, state, and local government levels to come together and help rebuild our party.
“Another election is around the corner. We lost everything we have. They have left to other political parties. So I’ll reach out to all my friends in the other group to get together and work on making this party stronger again.
“The caretaker committee has formed a reconciliation committee. Let’s come together and talk so that we can restore the first opposition political party in Nigeria.”
Mr Ojukwu, who was part of the Julius Abure’s group, said there are no more factions in the LP.
He added, “There is a court ruling, and since it is valid, the right people are in the correct positions.”
He urged Barr Abure and others to drop the legal cases they have filed because they are not helping the party.
“Litigations are killing political parties”, he said. “They’ve seen many political parties disappear because of legal battles, and the Labor Party is losing support every day, which makes me feel sad.”
Mr Ojukwu said he did not think joining the Senator Nenadi-Usman’s NWC was a betrayal of the Abure group, describing himself as “the oxygen” of that faction.
“I’m with this group because of the verdict. But I never betrayed anybody. Rather, I was betrayed,” he added.
