Ahead of the governorship election in Ondo state, crisis is brewing in the Labour Party (LP) over the authentic candidate of the party for the governorship election in the state.
This is just as the party distanced itself from the candidacy of the Secretary General of the Pan Yoruba socio-political group, Chief Sola Ebiseni, urging the public to disregard Ebiseni’s claim.
The leadership of the LP maintained that Ebiseni is not known to the party, saying his claim as the candidate of the party in the November 16 governorship election in Ondo state should be taken as a huge joke.
The LP in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh said that Dr. Ayo Olorunfemi remains the candidate of the party, having emerged as its flag bearer in the Ondo state governorship election after its primaries held in Akure in June.
Ifoh noted Ebiseni who contested for the governorship of the opposition Peoplee Democratic Party (PDP) in the state but lost, is yet to relinquish his membership of the PDP, neither has he formally identified with the Labour Party.
He said, “Dr. 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.
“Chief Ebiseni is not our candidate, though he aspired to be one. INEC has since concluded the nomination processes and one wonders how he emerged without the involvement of the INEC and the sponsorship of the Labour Party.
“We also took note of some persons who are not members of the Labour Party but believed to be working for the Nigeria Labour Congress who must have been urging him on in their blind and illegitimate pursuit of the leadership of the party even when the Appeal Court has affirmed Barrister Julius Abure as the authentic chairman of the Labour Party.
“Impersonation is a serious crime in Nigeria and we therefore urge the Nigeria Police, the Department of the State Security and all other security agencies to apprehend anyone impersonating or being used to fight a proxy battle by way of impersonation.
“Labour Party is poised to win the Ondo governorship election having fielded a very credible candidate who is a grassroot politician, a prominent Labour leader and a renowned educationist.
“We think that this unholy alliance between Ebiseni and APC sponsored NLC is geared towards frustrating our expected victory at the polls but we will resist it through every legal means.
“We are therefore calling on our party members in Ondo, particularly Obidient family and the entire electorate to ignore the gang up against the party and come out en-masse to vote for Dr. Olorunfemi of the Labour Party, secure our votes and make sure our votes count.”
But an official of the party in the state, explained to Tribune Online that Olorunfemi has seized to be the candidate of the party, saying the statement was designed to cause distractions ahead of the election.
He said “LP does not have a National Executive at the moment. Their tenure expired months ago and they have handed over to the National Transition Committee according to the constitution.
“Olorunfemi’s letter of withdrawal is with us. The court has pronounced Ebiseni the candidate in line with the Party’s constitution. This is just a distraction and that’s what they are after. They are just being used.”
He disclosed that there was a letter from Julius Abure as National Chairman and Umar Farouk as National Secretary acknowledging the withdrawal of Olorunfemi as the party’s candidate, before the INEC recently disowned them by refusing Abure into the meeting with National Chairmen of political parties.
The source said “Olorunfemi who is from the Northern Senatorial District against the zoning arrangement in the state where the ticket is zoned was only a place holder.
“Chief Sola Ebiseni was invited by Olorunfemi who was the Deputy National Chairman to the National Executive Committee then led by Abure. They sold the Nomination Form for Ebiseni and made him pay expenses for the primary.
“The unveiling of Ebiseni as the Ondo State Gubernatorial candidate is with the consent and knowledge of the majority of the members of the leadership of the Party except those using Olorunfemi to negotiate with other parties.
“The Labour Party is unbeatable with the combination of Sola Ebiseni as Governor and Dayo Awude as Deputy Governor who were both Commissioners in the Labour Party Government of Dr Olusegun Mimiko. Olorunfemi is a mere distraction that the leadership of the Party will resolve soon.
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