Ondo guber: Angry APC, PDP aspirants set to merge with LP

The leadership of Labour Party on Friday declared that disgruntled governorship aspirants in the All Progressives Congress(APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo state have begun discussions with the party in order to defect and be the candidate for the November 16 election.

The party reaffirmed that party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi; Abia State Governor, Alex Oti, and lawmakers elected on the platform of the party and influential members of the Obidient Movement will lead its governorship campaign in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

In a statement jointly issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh and the Chairman of LP governorship primaries in Ondo, Olusola Ayodele said that the party is prepared to rescue the state from the All Progressives Congress government at the November 16 governorship election, said they are prepared to back their candidate, Dr Ayodele Olorunfemi, all the way to victory.

Olorunfemi, a popular unionist, was returned unopposed during the governorship primary election held at the party’s Secretariat in Akure, on April 27.

He was the former General Secretary of the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies, an affiliate of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria.

Addressing the South-West leadership of the party in Ibadan, Oyo State capital on Friday, Ayodele, who conducted the Ondo primaries a fortnight ago disclosed that a task force has been formed to speed up activities for the governorship campaign.

Ayodele, who is also LP Deputy State Chairman in Oyo State, explained that the task force membership comprises key leaders of the party in the Southwest saddled with the responsibility to mobilise a high-powered national campaign team that can re-enact the victory of former Governor Olusegun Mimiko in 2013.

He said, “To lead the Ondo National Campaign Committee is the Presidential Candidate of Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi and Governor of Abia State, Mr Alex Oti.

“They are to be supported by all LP senators, reps members, state lawmakers, and other key leaders of the Party in the country with formidable solidarity from key members of the Obidient Movement in the diaspora.”

The chairman was however silent on the date for the official kick-off of the electioneering campaign.

There were however feelers from the party that the current LP governorship candidate in Ondo was temporarily handed the ticket as a placeholder and will give way to a more formidable flag bearer before November.

But Ayodele dismissed the rumors, stating that such a move can only possible if the incumbent governorship candidate decides to withdraw from the race during the substitution window created by INEC with the consent of the National Working Committee.

However, the deputy state chairman of the LP acknowledged that few disgruntled governorship candidates from the Peoples Democratic Party and the ruling All Progressives Congress are currently in discussions with the LP regarding the prospect of defecting to the Labour Party.

The statement reads, ”Ayodele said although some aggrieved frontline governorship aspirants, especially from the APC and PDP are already discussing the possibility of crossing to Labour Party with the Committee, it is only the National Working Committee of the Party that can sanction such discussion before the close of the substitution window of INEC. He however applauded the youths, students and the masses of the people in Ondo State for remaining steadfast with the Party, ”.