By Emmanuel Oladesu 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it did not substitute the governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in Ondo State.

It said the alarm raised by one of its governorship aspirants was false.

INEC National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education Festus Okoye said in a statement that aggrieved aspirants who have issues with nominations should take their cases to the leadership of their parties.

The statement said: “On July 31, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) published the provisional list of candidates for the Ondo State Governorship Election scheduled for October 10 at its state office in Akure and also uploaded same to its website and social media platforms.

Read Also: INEC seeks more powers on election process, primaries

“The list contains the names of the governorship and deputy governorship candidates submitted by 17 parties, including the African Action Congress (AAC) at the close of nomination on July 28. However, one of the aspirants in the primaries of the party accused the commission of substituting his name as the rightful governorship candidate of the party, while another aspirant claimed that the commission substituted his deputy governorship candidate.

“Contrary to these assertions, INEC did not substitute the name of any aspirant or candidate. The commission received only one submission from the AAC through its dedicated online portal for candidate nomination. There was no human interface. The names uploaded on the portal by the parties were the same names published. The commission only receives the names of candidates and running mates from the national headquarters of parties, duly signed by the national chairman and national secretary.

“Aspirants, candidates and state branches of parties with issues or challenges relating to their nominated candidates should approach and resolve such issues with the national chairmen and secretaries of their parties.”

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

The Federal High Court in Abuja has been urged to restrain Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu from further parading himself as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the governorship election scheduled for October 10.

The request is part of the reliefs contained in a suit filed by an aggrieved member of the APC and a governorship aspirant, Nathaniel Adojutelegan, who equally wants the court to void the outcome of the party’s governorship primary held on July 20, which Akeredolu purportedly won.

Adojutelegan, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/886/2020, also urged the court to order the APC to conduct a fresh primary election and bar Akeredolu from participating in the fresh one to be ordered by the court.

The plaintiff, in the suit, with the APC, Akeredolu and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants, argued that the primary was held in violation of the Electoral Act, APC’s constitution, the party’s electoral guidelines, among other provisions.

Read Also: Akeredolu denies reporting Mimiko to EFCC

due delegates’ congresses ought to be conducted at the wards making up the constituency in question, in this case wards in the entire Ondo State, to democratically choose by secret ballot, the delegates for the governorship primary.

“I know as a fact that the list of delegates for the election ought to be made available to aspirants within a reasonable time and well before the primary election.

“The 1st defendant failed to comply with these guidelines or constitutional provisions enshrined in the 1st defendant’s constitution.

“Being aggrieved by the result of the primary, I petitioned by way of an appeal against it to the 1st defendant’s appeals committee on July 22 and appeared before the committee in Abuja on July 24 to present my petition/appeal. I have not heard from the committee since then.

“I know that to allow the outcome of the election to stand is to allow the 2nd defendant to gain from his wrongdoings.

The plaintiff is also seeing among others, “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the 2nd defendant from putting himself out or parading himself as candidate of the 1st defendant for the office of Governor of Ondo State in the coming general election for the seat of Governor of Ondo State slated for October 10 or any other date.”

Adojutelegan wants “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st and 3rd defendants, their agents, privies, servants and assigns or any person howsoever from recognising and or continuing to recognise the 2nd defendant as the 1st defendant’s candidate for the office of Governor of Ondo State in the coming general election for the seat of governor of Ondo State slated for October 10 or any other date or granting to him any right in relation thereto.”

From Osagie Otabor, Akure

One of the contestants for the chairmanship position in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, Mr. Dennis Arole-Along, has described the congress as a sham.

He is contesting against the Deputy Chairman, Mr. Fatai Adams.

Speaking with our reporter at the venue of the congress, Arole-Along said the venue picked for the 2,150 delegates to vote was wrong.

He said the arrangement was meant to be a sham, adding that it was not free or fair.

Read Also: How Ondo PDP primary was lost and won

Arole-Along said the voting arrangement gave room for delegates to be guided on who to vote for.

Said he: “The entire process is not transparent. You see 10 delegates voting at the same time and they are being supervised on who to vote for.

“The outcome of today’s congress will make or mar the PDP. It will reflect on the October 10 governorship election.”

Adams, however, described the congress as free, fair and transparent.

He said voting was an open thing.

From Osagie Otabor, Akure 

The only lawmaker elected on the platform of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) into the House of Assembly, Leonard Tomide Akinribido, has been suspended.

Akinribido, who represents Ondo West Constituency 1, was suspended over alleged gross misconduct and use of vulgar words against Speaker Bamidele Oleyelogun in the hallowed chamber and on What Sapp platform.

Akinribido was ordered to drop official documents in his care and also asked to stay away from the premises of the assembly during suspension.

The assembly three weeks ago suspended three lawmakers for alleged gross misconduct. They are Deputy Speaker Iroju Ogundeji, Adewale Williams and Favour Tomomewo.

Read Also: Emmanuel suspends Special Assistant

Akinribido alleged that he was suspended for not supporting moves to impeach Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi.

He said he had already apologised for the messages he posted in a What Sapp group platform.

In a brief chat with reporters, Akinribido alleged that his suspension was politically motivated.

He described it as a witch hunt and denied pouring invective on the Speaker as alleged.

Akinribido said plot against him became thickened, as the deputy governor is planning to defect to the ZLP.

From Osagie Otabor, Akure 

Ondo State Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi has stayed away from the congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He joined the party in June, but refused to resign from office.

Ajayi contested the primary election, losing to Eyitayo Jegede.

After the loss, he denied plans to leave the party.

His campaign posters on a new platform-Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), have surfaced, although he is yet to resign from the PDP.

A close aide said Ajayi was not in Akure. Voting has begun at the PDP congress.

Outgoing Acting Chairman Clement Faboyede said he expected the winners to embrace all contestants.

He said the peaceful conduct of the exercise showed that the PDP was different from other parties.

Read Also: Cracks in Ondo PDP as five governors back Ajayi’s ZLP move

Faboyede, an engineer, said the PDP wanted to go into the governorship election as a united family.

The campaign posters and banners of Ajayi, seeking to contest the October 10 governorship poll on the platform of the ZLP, have flooded the social media and streets of Akure.

ZLP’s secretariat in Akure has also been adorned with Ajayi’s campaign posters, which confirms the rumour that the deputy governor will dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) this week.

Ajayi resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the PDP in June.

Last month, he contested the PDP primary election, but failed to secure the ticket, which was won by Jegede.

Ajayi was said to have met former governor Olusegun Mimiko, during which arrangements were finalised on his move to the ZLP.

An aide to Ajayi, who pleaded anonymity, said his boss was aware of the ZLP campaign posters, but did not authorised them.

The aide said talks have reached an advanced stage for Ajayi’s formal defection to the ZLP.

Yusuf Alli, Abuja

THERE were indications on Monday that cracks had developed in the Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This followed reluctance of the party’s governorship candidate, Eyitayo Jegede, to accept embattled Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi as his running mate. Also, the division in the state’s chapter of the party has been linked to the Cold War over PDP’s 2023 presidential slot. Jegede is a close ally of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; he won the primaries, despite the support Ajayi got from five PDP governors. The five governors had attempted to use the primaries to stop Jegede from becoming the party’s candidate. Following the failure of the deputy governor at the primaries, the five PDP governors were said to be pushing Ajayi to run on the platform of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). It was gathered that their plot is to split PDP’s votes and stop Atiku from producing a governor in the Southwest to use as a springboard for 2023 presidential race. But the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which was aware of the development in PDP, has been banking on the cracks in the opposition to consolidate its strength across the state. The support of President Muhammadu Buhari and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu added more bite to the campaign of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu. Worried by the new political mileage of APC in the state, it was learnt that some forces in the PDP have begun to prevail on Jegede to retain Ajayi as his running mate, instead of allowing him to defect to ZLP, which can affect the electoral fortunes of the state’s opposition party. Jegede’s camp was said to be wary of Ajayi, who controls nine members of the Ondo State House of Assembly. According to sources, Jegede’s strategists fear that Ajayi could become rebellious and impeach the governor, if the PDP wins in Ondo State.

Read Also: Jegede defeats Ajayi, others to pick Ondo PDP ticket

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Dissatisfied with the outcome of the PDP primary, five PDP governors allegedly instructed the deputy governor to open talks with the leadership of ZLP in the state. “They have made commitments to bankroll Ajayi’s governorship bid, if he secures ZLP’s ticket. “Penultimate Friday, Ajayi met with ZLP’s national leader and former governor of Ondo state, Olusegun Mimiko, where discussions held on the deal to concede the governorship ticket to Ajayi. “Precisely, last Tuesday, Ajayi was said to have dispatched a chartered aircraft to convey the former governor to Abuja, ostensibly to firm up arrangements with both the NWC of ZLP as well as the five PDP governors backing Ajayi.” Another source added: “We are good to go and bounce back as a political family. It is true that our boss met some powerful forces who asked if there was enough war chest to prosecute this battle and our oga (boss) told them he could raise N10 billion for the October 10, 2020 governorship election in the state. “It was at the meeting in Abuja with the five PDP governors that it was revealed that the current political drama in Ondo State PDP was all about the 2023 presidential ticket. “These governors, led by their colleagues from the Northwest and Southsouth, also vowed to stop Atiku from clinching the PDP ticket and one of their grand plans was to stop Jegede from becoming the governor of Ondo State.”  As at last night, Jegede had not shown conviction about choosing Ajayi as his running mate. But the PDP State Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Zadok Akintoye, in a statement on Sunday, denied that Ajayi was joining the ZLP.

By Osagie Otabor, Akure

Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has debunked social media reports that he had concluded plans to drag his predecessor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Akeredolu said he never threatened to expose Mimiko, whom he described as a friend of over four decades to the EFCC.

The Ondo governor described the reports as untrue, puerile and utterly mischievous.

He said it was a cleverly laid path for two friends to engage in needless mudslinging.

The Ondo Governor who spoke through is Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo, said it was not his desire “to travel such pernicious path typical of those who have taken the route of perfidy for sake of their political ambitions.

Read Also: Why I chose Ayedatiwa, by Akeredolu

“We have since wished them well even in their self-inflicted tears of treachery and betrayal. Clearly too, the former governor, in Governor Akeredolu’s view, is well acquainted with the antecedents of those who have chosen to embrace any straw, including those they had mindlessly plotted against in the past, to keep their waning political comfort zones afloat.

“Nonetheless, while Governor Akeredolu has nothing against his friend and predecessor, he has chosen to allow posterity to intercede and interpret the roles of men in whatever form. In this regard, the friendship of the duo shall remain unaffected by the current political permutations, alignments and realignment, however impotently strange. Governor Akeredolu shall maintain that cordiality even in the face of opportunism.”

‘Dare Odufowokan, Assistant Editor

 

LEADERS of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State appear to be running short of time in reconciling  the party’s governorship candidate, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, with his former political leader, ex-governor Olusegun Mimiko.

There is palpable tension in the party already ahead of the October governorship election as talks between the camps of the two erstwhile political allies remain inconclusive, party sources said last night.

The Nation gathered that many PDP leaders within and outside the state, had been optimistic about the possibility of Jegede reconciling with Mimiko ahead of the general election.

Sources close to the two camps said the failure of the reconciliation moves may not be unconnected with some developments within the party.

While Mimiko had allegedly made it clear he was not prepared to rejoin the PDP just yet, it was believed that he was willing to help Jegede defeat Akeredolu, who has also met the former governor to ask for his support.

One source said:”Mimiko was ready to support Jegede once again, even if it is from outside the PDP.

“He appreciated efforts by the PDP candidates and other party leaders to woo him. But as a politician, he needed to be sure he would not regret his action.

“But as we speak, the talks have failed and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)  now has a candidate. I can tell you some governorship aspirants from both the PDP and the APC are still begging to be made ZLP candidate.”

Mimiko belongs to the ZLP.

Another source claimed that the failure of the talks may not be unconnected with the issue of who will become Jegede’s running mate. The Nation gathered that the insistence of some party leaders that one of those who contested the ticket with Jegede must be chosen as running mate may run contrary to some positions held during the talks between the two camps.

“Mimiko is not a member of the PDP but he has a lot of allies and associates within the party. As a former leader of the party in the state, he understands how it works. Like Jegede, he believes the governorship candidate should be allowed to choose who he will work with. So, I can tell you that the current situation may not be pleasing to him.”

It appears the choice made by Jegede is being rejected by some prominent party chieftains.

An aide of the former governor, while refusing to comment as he wasn’t authorized to, said Mimiko would  not like to be part of a house that appears divided right from the onset.

However to douse tension within the party, its Director of Media and Publicity Zadok Akintoye in a two paragraph statement said: “Please, be informed that a deputy governorship candidate for the forthcoming governorship election in October is yet to be picked for the party. Consultation is currently ongoing to determine who would be nominated by the party for that position. While some names have been suggested, nobody has been nominated nor favoured by the candidate for that position.”

Reliable sources claimed that the ability to win Mimiko’s support for the party remains one of the factors that swung victory in Jegede’s favour during the primary election.

Read Also: PDP will defeat Akeredolu, says Jegede

Not a few of the party’s chieftains are of the opinion that the PDP will benefit immensely should the former governor throw his weight behind the party’s candidate come October.

In 2016, Mimiko backed Jegede to succeed him as governor on the platform of the PDP and worked hard at the governorship election which the party lost to APC. Mimiko deserted PDP activities both at the state and the national level immediately after the party lost the 2016governorship election and eventually dumped the party to rejoin the Labour Party in 2018. He later left the Labour Party and founded the Zenith Labour Party afterwards.

But Jegede, his then running mate, Prince John Ola-Mafo, former Commissioners, Kayode Akinmade, Dayo Awude and Jide Adejuyigbe, and many other allies of the ex-governor refused to decamp with Mimiko to Labour Party. The development caused a crack in the relationship between the duo. During the 2019 general elections, while Mimiko contested on the platform of the ZLP for a senate seat and supported the party’s other candidates, Jegede and his people worked hard for the PDP. Mimiko lost to Ayo Akinyelure, the PDP candidate in Ondo Central Senatorial District where Jegede also hails from.

However, our correspondent was informed that Jegede initiated reconciliation moves between himself and Mimiko from the very moment he signified interest in seeking the PDP governorship ticket again. According to close aides of the former Justice Commissioner, Jegede is convinced that he needs the support of Mimiko and the former governor’s political family in his quest to sack Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from Government House this year.

Last month, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State also met with Mimiko ahead of the October governorship election in the state, as part of what reliable sources claimed were efforts by Jegede to convince his former boss to support him in the political battle against Akeredolu and the APC.

The meeting took place at Dr. Mimiko Ondo country home and  lasted for over three hours.

Makinde was accompanied to the close door meeting by Senator Ayoola Hosea Agboola. Sources claimed Jegede and Mimiko had met earlier to discuss possible collaboration ahead of the 2020 governorship poll. “Mimiko is a huge asset political for any party, especially in a governorship election. So, we have been working hard at getting his support. Jegede recognizes the weight of the former governor. And most leaders of the PDP in the state also do. That is where talks have been on to have him on our side as we hope to sack the current APC administration in the state,” a source claimed.

The Nation gathered that it was on the strength of the ongoing talks that supporters of the former governor within the PDP backed the candidacy of Jegede during the PDP primary election in the state. Party sources claimed some prominent leaders of the party worked for the emergence of Agboola Ajayi as the flag bearer. “The intervention of Mimiko and his supporters within and outside PDP helped win the ticket for Jegede. It is also due to the reconciliation efforts then ongoing that ZLP refused overtures from the deputy governor to be its flag bearer. The plan was for ZLP to work for Jegede at the general election. But it appears things have changed as the ZLP now have a candidate,” an official of Mimiko’s party said yesterday.

 

 Okodili Ndidi, Abuja

 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has advised the electorates in Ondo State to vet the list and particulars of nominated candidates for the October 10 governorship election to enhance transparency in the party nomination processes.

INEC in a statement signed by National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, disclosed that seventeen out of the 18 registered Political Parties gave the Commission the requisite statutory notice of their intention to conduct primaries and “they conducted primaries for the purposes of nominating candidates for the Governorship Election.”

According to the statement, “On 6 February 2020, the Commission published the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Ondo Governorship Election and gave political parties interested in sponsoring and nominating candidates between 2 and 25 July 2020 to conduct party primaries and till 6pm of 28 July 2020 for the submission of the list and particulars of nominated candidates.

“Seventeen out of the 18 registered Political Parties gave the Commission the requisite statutory notice of their intention to conduct primaries and they conducted primaries for the purposes of nominating candidates for the Governorship Election”.

It added that, “the Commission opened its dedicated nomination portal on 21 July 2020 and some of the political parties that conducted their primaries before the 25 July deadline seized the opportunity and uploaded the list and particulars of their nominated candidates ahead of the cut off time of 6pm on 28 July 2020. As at 4.08pm today, 28 July 2020, all the 17 Political Parties had submitted the List and Particulars of their nominated candidates using the INEC dedicated portal.

Read Also: Ondo 2020: YDP, AAC pick guber candidates

“The List and Personal Particulars of the candidates as submitted by the 17 political parties will be uploaded on our website and published in our State Office in Akure, Ondo State on Friday 31 July 2020.  This is in compliance with section 31(3) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended). The List will also be published on the Commission’s social media platforms on the same day.

“By section 31 (5) & (6) of the Electoral Act, a person who has reasonable grounds to believe that any information given in the affidavit or any of the documents submitted by any of the candidates is false, may file a suit in Court seeking a declaration that such information is false. If the Court determines that the information is false, the Court shall issue an Order disqualifying the candidate from contesting the election.

“We urge members of the public to take an active part in the vetting of the List and Particulars of nominated candidates to enhance transparency in the party nomination processes.”