11th May 2024
Leaders of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State under the auspices of the Ondo People’s Assembly (OPA) have called on the national leadership of the party to sanction Senator Jimoh Ibrahim and Chief Olusola Oke for allegedly undermining the democratic process and instigating crisis over the recently concluded party’s primary in the state.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa was declared winner of the APC primary, but Senator Ibrahim, Chief Oke, and some aspirants rejected the outcome of the primary.
Senator Ibrahim has since filed a suit before a Federal High Court, seeking cancellation of the primary.
The party leaders alleged that Senator Ibrahim was working with some desperate politicians in the opposition political party to distract APC’s preparations for the November governorship election.
Convener of the group, Olufemi Lawson, who spoke at a press conference in Akure, said the plan was a mirror of the role Ibrahim played in the 2016 governorship election when he (Ibrahim) was a member of the opposition PDP
Lawson said: “It is with deep dismay that we address the sustained attacks on the personality of Governor Aiyedatiwa by Senator Ibrahim and some supporters of Chief Olusola Oke, who were among the losers of the primary.
“It is indisputable, that Governor Aiyedatiwa emerged as the winner of the primary through a transparent and democratic process. It is therefore unacceptable that individuals would seek to undermine the will of the people and disrupt the peace and stability of our state.
“We commend the other aspirants who participated in the contest for their sportsmanship and for conceding victory to Governor Aiyedatiwa. Their exemplary behaviour is a testament to their commitment to the democratic ideals that we hold dear.
“We hereby call upon the leadership of the APC to take immediate and decisive action against Senator Jimoh Ibrahim for continuously publicly attacking the party, disrespecting the office of the governor of Ondo State, and undermining a democratic process conducted by the party. His actions are not only detrimental to the party but also to the entire state.
“We reaffirm that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa remains the incontrovertible choice and candidate of the people for the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State. We urge all well-meaning citizens to rally behind him as we strive to move our dear state forward.”
Chief Oke who spoke through the spokesman of his campaign organisation, Ojo Oyewamide, said Ondo people were not displeased with any aspirant seeking justice in the court of law.
”Rather, they(residents) are displeased with the crude and dirty manner in which the party threw up Aiyedatiwa as the candidate of the party. They are witnesses to the mindless rape of internal democracy in our party. As a result, the rating of the party has seriously been affected.
“If there are any members that want to destroy the party, they are the people who claimed that the governorship primary election took place in Ondo state when, in fact, there was nothing like that. They are supporters of Aiyedatiwa whose actions and words are not conciliatory at all.”
The party leaders are, however, to meet Ibrahim in court over calls that he should be sanctioned for rejecting the outcome of the party’s governorship primary.
Senator Ibrahim said anybody aggrieved over his action should wait for the court’s ruling.
Ibrahim who spoke through a spokesman for his campaign organisation, Banji Okunomo, said: “We are already in court. Whoever is aggrieved should meet us in court.”
