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Tag: Kekemeke

  • Ondo 2024: I am experienced Governor Ondo needs, says Kekemeke

    Ondo 2024: I am experienced Governor Ondo needs, says Kekemeke

    National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Secretary to the Ondo State Government (SSG), Hon. Isaacs Kekemeke, has said that he remained the most experienced man the Sunshine State needs as Governor.

    Kekemeke, who spoke in Akure at a press conference to declare his intention to contest the party primary, said the State does not need pettiness, low sentiments and prejudices in running its affairs.

    The pioneer Board Chairman of the National Examination Council (NECO) said the State does not need a roadside Governor.

    He said his vision is “to create a prosperous and peaceful State where citizens find work to do and thereby live meaningfully and comfortably”.

    Read Also: Kekemeke begs Amosun, Gov Abiodun to halt brickbat

    Kekemeke noted that he has the experience to lead Ondo State to a place of socio-economic prosperity and peace.

    According to him: “As a state, we can no longer afford to amuse ourselves with bare pettiness, low sentiments, and prejudices that have rudely arrested our growth and development.

    “We need a leadership for the State, a leadership not only for a segment of the State but for the whole State. We don’t need a roadside Governor.

    “Ondo state needs a leadership that sufficiently understands the philosophy of the present Federal government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and its Renewed Hope programme for effective partnership and collaboration; a leadership that will uphold the tenets and ideals of good governance bequeathed to us by Chief Obafemi Awolowo and PA Michael Adekunle Ajasin and others.

    “Our codified programs elaborately set out in our agenda for prosperity and peace which we unveil today will ensure an industrial take-off of Ondo State through prioritised investment in human and natural endowments in the State, change its current “Civil Service” status, grow the revenue base of the State with corresponding increase in government spending for the good of the people.

    “We offer free and compulsory primary education, free secondary school education, highly subsidised tertiary education, quality health services for all including the establishment of a pharmaceutical company and the “Ibile” hospital.”

  • Ondo APC leaders know fate April

    Ondo APC leaders know fate April

    The Federal High Court sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, will, on April 17, deliver judgment in a suit challenging the selection of Ade Adetimehin as the Acting Chairman of the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the suspension of Mr Isaacs Kekemeke as the party’s state chairman.

    The plaintiffs – Messrs Gboyega Adedipe and Desmond Dejumola through their counsel, Olu Akinola – had approached the court to nullify the decisions taken at a meeting of the APC State Executive Council (SEC) where Kekemeke was suspended as the party’s chairman last year.

    He noted that the meeting did not form a quorum.

    Kekemeke was indicted by a disciplinary committee set up by the party’s SEC, earlier this year, for alleged anti-party affairs.

    Counsel to Adetimehin and the APC, Femi Emodamori, argued that the two plaintiffs lacked the locus standi to institute the case because they had defected to the Alliance for Democracy (AD) while the duo had resigned as the party’s state Vice Chairman (Ondo Central) and the state Legal Adviser in 2016.

    Emodamori prayed the court to dismiss the suit since the plaintiffs had also failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the APC executive meeting where Kekemeke was suspended was not properly constituted.

    Lawyer to the first, second and third defendants, Charles Titiloye, also said the case lacked merit.

    He prayed the court to see the plaintiffs as busybodies who left APC for another party and failed to join necessary parties in the matter.

    At the resumed hearing, counsel to the plaintiffs, Akinola, argued that the disciplinary committee set up to investigate Kekemeke was unconstitutional.

    The lawyer averred that the committee was not constituted in line with the party’s constitution.

    Justice J. A. Olubanjo adjourned the matter till April 17 for judgement.

     

     

  • Ondo APC exco to Kekemeke: Resign

    The State Working Committee (SWC) and the State Executive Committee (SEC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State yesterday gave the embattled former chairman of the party, Isaac Kekemeke, seven days to formally resign his appointment or face legal action.

    After reviewing the reports of the disciplinary committee set up to investigate allegations of negligence and anti-party activities against Kekemeke, the two organs of the party found him guilty of the allegations.

    They also threatened to take stiffer action against him, if he fails to resign his appointment within seven days.

    The party also directed Kekemeke to return the party’s properties and documents in his custody to the state secretariat.

    The disciplinary committee, headed by Abayomi Adesanya, reportedly found Kekemeke guilty of gross misconduct and anti-party activities.

    It was said to have established that the embattled party chairman worked for the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in the November 26, last year’s governorship election in the state.

    Although Kekemeke did not appear before the committee, Adesanya said the panel relied on the evidence presented before it by other party leaders, including Acting Chairman Ade Adetimehin.

    According to the report of the disciplinary committee, Kekemeke worked for the governorship candidate of the AD, Chief Olusola Oke, before, during and after the governorship election.

    The embattled chairman was said to have been instrumental to a suit instituted by a governorship aspirant of the party, Mr Olusegun Abraham.

  • Ondo APC crisis: Panel to publish recommendations on Kekemeke

    Ondo APC crisis: Panel to publish recommendations on Kekemeke

    The panel Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) set up to probe the activities of its chairman, Isaac Kekemeke, yesterday said he failed three times to appear before the committee.

    The party’s State Executive Committee (SEC) accused Kekemeke of negligence and anti-party activities.

    It promised to make public its recommendations.

    A disciplinary committee extended its sitting till yesterday to give Kekemeke another opportunity to appear before it.

    Other leaders of the party, including the state’s Acting Chairman, Ade Adetimehin; Director General of Rotimi Akeredolu Campaign Organisation, Victor Olabimtan; the Women Leader, Mrs Omolara Atiba; the Secretary, Mr Raman Rotimi; the Financial Secretary, Ishola Moshood and the Auditor, Samuel Bamidele, appeared before the committee.

    Kekemeke hinged his decision to shun the committee on the ground that he was not duly invited to appear before it.

    But the chairman of the disciplinary committee, Prince Abayomi Adesanya said the embattled state chairman was duly invited to the panel’s sitting through letters delivered to him.

    Adesanya, who accused Kekemeke of beating up two administrative workers of the party when they delivered the invitation letters to him, added that courier services were also used to deliver the letters to the embattled party chairman.

     

     

    He said Kekemeke could be expelled from the party because the committee would not avail him any further opportunity to appear before it.

    The panel chairman, who is also APC’s State Publicity Secretary, said the ultimatum the State Executive Committee (SEC) gave the committee had lapsed, adding that the panel’s recommendations will be presented to the party today for approval.

    He added that the committee would make its recommendations on the evidences before it and the submissions by members who appeared before it during its public hearing.

     

  • Akeredolu not after Kekemeke, says aide

    Akeredolu not after Kekemeke, says aide

    The  Senior Special Assistant to the Ondo State Governor on Special Duties  and Strategy, Dr Doyin Odebowale, has distanced Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu from the suspension of Mr Isaac Kekemeke as the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman in the state.

    Odebowale, in an advertorial in this newspaper, condemned a letter in which Kekemeke accused the governor of using “state machinery to vilify perceived enemies”.

    The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to the unfortunate virtuperation in the letter written by the suspended Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Isaac Kekemeke, to the South West Zonal Executive, entitled, “Complaint of Deployment of Violent and Unconstitutional Means of Taking Over the Ondo State APC Structure by Certain Elements” (sic), wherein he alleged that the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, was deploying “state machinery to vilify perceived enemies,…”

    “It is ludicrous to note that he described the process culminating in his suspension as fraudulent.  While we consider it puerile to descend to his level we will not fail to note the deviousness? he tried to veneer in his said letter.

    “In as much as we can assert  that the governor is not connected remotely or otherwise with the present development in respect of the Chairmanship of the party in Ondo State, we posit that no process could have been more legal than the meeting which determined Kekemeke’s queer leadership. It is verifiable that majority of the Executive members attended the meeting where a vote of no confidence was passed on him. The proceeding was said to have been recorded in full. There was nothing secretive about it.  All those who attended the meeting are well known party members. Therefore, the laughable claim by Mr Kekemeke that he had been informed through phantom calls and visits by men and women of his ilk, should be seen as the plaintive cry of a man whose influence has waned as due recompense for non-performance .”

  • Ondo APC crisis deepens as Kekemeke shuns invitation

    The three-man committee set up to probe various allegations levelled against Ondo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Isaac Kekemeke, yesterday said he had been evading invitation to meet its members.

    Addressing reporters in Akure, the state capital, Committee Chairman Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya said Kekemeke refused to receive the committee’s invitation on two occasions.

    Adesanya, who was accompanied by two other members – Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye (Secretary) and Rasheed Badmus – said the embattled chairman failed to receive the invitation letter sent to him.

    According to him, the first attempt was by the party’s Clerk Ige Akingbagboun and Felix Aborowa, who were in Kekemeke’s law office at Alagbaka in Akure last Monday to deliver the letter.

    He said rather than take the letter, the chairman allegedly mobilised some men to beat up the two APC workers who conveyed the letter.

    Adesanya, who is also the state’s APC Publicity Secretary, said there is a complaint of assault on the two party officers pending with the police against Kekemeke.

    He said: “We also attempted to deliver the letter by courier (DHL) service …to him (Kekemeke) on same day (last Monday) but he refused to accept it from the DHL delivery man. None of his workers at Atimati Chambers accepted the parcel.

    “Kekemeke should take note that he will be made to also answer the allegation of masterminding the assault on lawful party officials at his law office anytime he appears before our committee. This may constitute a gross misconduct.

    “This will be in addition to the allegations contained in our referenced letter to him.”

    In a radio chat, Kekemeke, who is a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), said the suspension and appointment of his deputy, Ade Adetimehin, was scandalous.

    The politician stressed that he remained the APC chairman in Ondo State.

    He urged the party’s supporters to remain calm, adding that steps would soon be taken to address the issue.

    Other APC leaders invited by the committee include former Speaker Victor Olabimtan, APC Women Leader Mrs Omolara Atiba, Secretary Rotimi Rahman, Financial Secretary Ishola Moshood, Auditor Samuel Bamidele and Acting Chairman Ade Adetimehin.

     

  • State exco backs Kekemeke

    State exco backs Kekemeke

    THE State Executive Committee (SEC) of Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC yesterday declared its support for the leadership of its Chairman, Isaacs Kekemeke.

    The SEC, at a news conference addressed by the party’s secretary, Mr. Rotimi Rahman, dissociated the state executives from the purported removal of the chairman by four members of the SEC over alleged endorsement and imposition of a governorship aspirant.

    The APC leadership noted that the party remain one and well-focused on emerging victorious in the governorship election on November 26.

    It urged the party delegates and members to work in line with the party’s principles in the interest of peace and to make Ondo an APC state.

    Eleven of the 15 SEC members and the party’s zonal leadership attended the meeting.

    The 17 APC local government chairmen had also passed vote of confidence on Kekemeke.

    The chairmen, led by Mr. Rasheed Badmus in a resolution signed by 15 of them, expressed confident in Kekemeke’s leadership.

    They promised to work in line with party’s directive in the conduct of the party’s primary and for the APC to emerge victorious in the November election.

  • Kekemeke remains APC chair, says NEC

    Kekemeke remains APC chair, says NEC

    THE National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday passed a vote of confidence in its embattled Ondo State Chairman, Isaac Kekemeke, and his executives.

    It debunked reports on the removal of Kekemeke, saying he is in control of the party, and will remain so until the national secretariat decides otherwise.

    In a communique at the end of the meeting of the State Executive Committee (SEC) with National Executive Committee (NEC) officials from Abuja, APC resolved to remain focused and determined to wrest power from the Governor Olusegun Mimiko administration.

    According to the communique, “the National Secretariat of the party, led by the national deputy chairman (North) and national deputy chairman (South) made it clear yesterday in a meeting with the State Working Committee that the state party chairman remains the party’s chairman in Ondo State, while grievance (s) from any dissent voice can only be treated as at first instance by the party’s zonal committee in line with Article 21 (B) (vi) (d) of the party’s constitution…”

    “We retain confidence in the leadership of Chief Pius Akinyelure, the party’s national vice chairman (Southwest).

    “We further affirm our confidence in the leadership of the National leader of our party, Senator Bola Tinubu.

    “We, therefore, assure the public, party members home and abroad and the party’s governorship aspirants in the primary election in Ondo State that the exercise is going to be free, fair and transparent to protect the integrity of our party in Ondo State.

    “We reassure the public, which made up its mind to send away the PDP-led government from its reign of deceit in Ondo State through their votes in November 2016, that there will be no imposition.”

     

  • Kekemeke remains Ondo APC Chair, says NEC

    Kekemeke remains Ondo APC Chair, says NEC

    The National Secretariat of the  of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday passed a vote of confidence on the embattled Chairman of the party in Ondo state,Isaac Kekemeke and its executives.

    It debunked the report on the removal of Kekemeke, saying he is still in control of the party in Ondo state and will remain so until the national secretariat decides otherwise.

    In a communique issued at the end of the meeting of the State Executive Committee (SEC) of the party, with the National Executive Committee(NEC)officials from Abuja, it resolved to remain focused and determined to wrest power from the present government in the state.

    According to the communique “the National Secretariat of the party led  by the National Deputy Chairman (North) and the National Deputy Chairman (South) have made it abundantly clear yesterday in a meeting held with the State Working Committee that the State Party Chairman, Kekemeke remains the Party’s Chairman in Ondo State, while grievance(s) from any dissent voice can only be treated as at first instance by the Party’s zonal committee in line with Article 21 (B) (vi) (d) of the party’s constitution.”

    The communique released by the party’s Director of Media and Publicity, Mr Steve Otaloro reads further “we remain resolute with the leadership of Hon. Kekemeke as the De-facto and De-jure Chairman of our Great Party in Ondo State.

    “We retain confidence in the leadership of Chief Pius Akinyelure, the Party’s National Vice Chairman (South West) of our great Party.

    “We further affirm our confidence in the leadership of the National leader of our Great Party, in person of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    “We therefore assure the general public, our party members home and abroad and all the party’s gubernatorial aspirants in the forthcoming primary election in Ondo State that the exercise is going to be free, fair and transparent to protect the integrity of our party in Ondo State.

    “We also we re-assure the general public who have made up their mind to send away the PDP-led government from its reign of deceit in Ondo State through their votes come November 2016, that there will be no imposition.”

  • ‘We’ve approached court for Kekemeke’s removal’

    ‘We’ve approached court for Kekemeke’s removal’

    •Party chair: I’m not aware of any suit stopping me

    Some members of Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC) have sued their chairman, Isaac Kekemeke, at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    They urged the court to stop him from parading himself as the party chairman.

    The party members said they decided to approach the court since the chairman, who had  allegedly been removed by the State Executive Committee on August 20, was still parading himself in that position.

    The suit was filed by Publicity Secretary Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya, Youth Leader Olutayo Babalayo and Akoko Southwest APC Chairman  Daodu Bolakale.

    But Kekemeke said he was not aware of any suit.

    A statement issued by Adesanya and the acting state chairman, Ade Adetimehin, in Akure, queried Kekemeke on why he should summon a meeting of the State Executive Committee for today.

    The statement insisted that since the executive committee passed a vote of no confidence on the chairman, the acting committee put in place has the legitimate right to called for a meeting.

    In the suit, the party members sought for an order of interlocutory injunction retraining Kekemeke from further parading himself as the APC chairman.

    They sought an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Police and the Department of State Service (DSS) from dealing with him.

    But Kekemeke said he had not been served any court order and that “those making the noise” were just wasting their time.

    He said: “As a lawyer, I am not aware of any suit that stopped me from parading myself as the chairman.

    “Even if they have sued me, there is no any court order restraining me from parading myself as the chairman. So, it does not make sense.

    “I have just met with the party chairmen at the local governments level and they pass their vote of confidence on me.”