The Labour Party yesterday renounced its affiliation with Olusola Ebiseni, the Secretary-General of the Yoruba Socio-cultural group, Afenifere, who has been on the news as the party’s candidate in the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State.
Recall that it was earlier reported that Ebiseni a former member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had been chosen to fly the Flag of the Labour Party in the forthcoming Ondo Gubernatorial election.
But in a twist, National Publicity Secretary of the LP, Obiora Ifoh, disclosed in a statement that Dr. Ayo Olorunfemi emerged as the party’s Flagbearer after its primaries held in Akure in June.
He asserted that Ebiseni, who contested the governorship primary in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but lost, is still a member of the PDP and has not formally identified with the Labour Party.
Ifoh said, “Dr. Ayo Olorunfemi is the candidate of the Labour Party. He emerged after the governorship primaries witnessed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). His name was subsequently submitted to INEC and was published as the Labour Party’s duly nominated candidate for the Ondo Election.
“Ebiseni is not our candidate, though he aspired to be one”, he said.
In another turn of events, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday, received 29 loyalists and associates of ex-Ondo State Governor Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, who had quit the PDP.
Former House of Representatives members, former speaker of the Ondo House of Assembly, former chairman of the PDP in the state, and former commissioners who were followers of the former governor were admitted to the APC in Akure, the state capital.
In a statement signed by Mimiko’s associates that was made public, they made it clear that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa would emerge victorious in the upcoming elections.
But Sen. Ademola Adeleke, Governor of Osun State and Chairman of PDP’s National Campaign Council says that the PDP will win the forthcoming off-cycle governorship election in Ondo State. Adeleke has stated that some leaders of the party who defected to the ruling APC are inconsequential.
At the PDP’s secretariat in Akure, the state capital, Adeleke inaugurated the State campaign Council led by Dr. Eddy Olafeso, and stated that the outcome of the elections would be decided by the masses.
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