2023: Crisis Brews In Ondo As Akeredolu, Deputy Tussle Over Candidates’ Nomination

A crisis is currently brewing in Ondo as the Governor of the state, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa are in a tussle over the nomination of candidates.

It is understood that the deputy governor, some cabinet members, and Akeredolu’s aides from Ilaje Local Government Area are fielding candidates different from those chosen by the party leadership and the governor.

A source told Daily Post that the governor and the leaders, including the APC State Chairman, Ade Adetimehin, all agreed on candidates for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, and Senate elections at a meeting held last week.

The source stated that a consensus to give Abayomi Akinruntan, the son of the Olugbo of Ugbo, a return ticket to the House of Assembly in exchange for his stepping down for former Information Commissioner, Donald Ojogo, who is running for the Ilaje/Ese-Odo House of Representatives seat was reached.

A party leader in Ilaje who was not present at the meeting but condemned the deputy leader for going against other stakeholders said Aiyedatiwa invited them to a meeting immediately and informed them that the Governor had rejected all of his recommendations for candidates in Ilaje and Ese-Odo.

According to him: “As things stand now, there are moves in Ilaje and Ese-Odo by the deputy Governor. He expressed disappointment that the governor rejected his candidate in Ilaje constituency 2 who was his Personal Assistant, Segun Iwalokun. There are many meetings that have been held between Thursday and now.

“Despite the Governor’s directive that we should all work for the former information commissioner, Ojogo, the deputy governor is campaigning and working for one Goke Ayara from Apoi. Aiyedatiwa has held two meetings against Ojogo’s aspiration at his house in Akure. I was part of one.

“They also held meetings and campaigned publicly that an Ijaw man is not fit to go for the House of Representatives in the federal constituency.”

However, when the publication contacted the deputy, he dismissed the allegations.

He said: “That is not true. How can I be in disagreement with the Governor when we have one administration and one government?”