- LP Candidate’s Defeat: Ayodele Olorunfemi, Labour Party governorship candidate in Ondo State, lost Saturday’s election.
- Blame Game: Olorunfemi blames former Anambra State governor Peter Obi and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for his defeat.
- Electoral Results: Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the APC won with 366,781 votes, defeating Agboola Ajayi of the PDP with 117,845 votes.
- Court Ruling: Olorunfemi’s name was reinstated on the ballot after a Court of Appeal ruling vacated an earlier judgment favoring Obi’s anointed candidate, Olusola Ebiseni.
- Allegations of Forgery: Olorunfemi accuses Ebiseni and the NLC of forging his signature to withdraw from the race.
The Ondo State governorship election has left the Labour Party candidate, Ayodele Olorunfemi, reeling in defeat. In a recent interview, Olorunfemi pointed fingers at Peter Obi, former Anambra State governor, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for his loss. The election saw Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the APC emerge victorious, sweeping all 18 local government areas with 366,781 votes.
Olorunfemi’s grievances stem from the controversy surrounding his candidacy. Initially, the Federal High Court ordered the electoral commission to recognize Olusola Ebiseni, Obi’s preferred candidate. However, the Court of Appeal later reinstated Olorunfemi’s name on the ballot.
The LP candidate alleges that Ebiseni and the NLC forged his signature to withdraw from the race, further complicating his campaign efforts ¹. In response, the NLC’s acting chairman, Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku, dismissed Olorunfemi as “a very funny character” who was never serious about running.
As the dust settles on the Ondo election, it’s clear that the internal conflicts within the Labour Party have left deep scars. Olorunfemi’s defeat serves as a reminder of the party’s ongoing struggles with unity and leadership.
