Party disowns Ebiseni as LP guber candidate in Ondo

• Mimiko’s loyalists, others dump PDP, defect to APC
• Defectors are inconsequential, says Adeleke

The leadership of the

Ebiseni

(LP), yesterday, distanced itself from the Secretary-General of the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Olusola Ebiseni, who is claiming to be the candidate of the party in the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the party said that Dr Ayo Olorunfemi emerged as its flagbearer in the Ondo State governorship election after its primaries held in Akure in June.

He also said that Ebiseni, who contested for the governorship under the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state but lost, is yet to relinquish his membership of the PDP or formally identify with the Labour Party.

Ifoh said: “Dr Ayo 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.

“Ebiseni is not our candidate, though he aspired to be one.
HOWEVER, no fewer than 29 loyalists and associates of former Governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday, after dumping the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The former governor’s followers, among who were former House of Representatives members, former Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, former Chairman of the PDP in the state and former commissioners, among others, were received into the APC fold in Akure, the state capital.

In a statement signed by Mimiko’s associates and made available to The Guardian, they vowed that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa would emerge victorious at the forthcoming polls.

BUT Osun State Governor and Chairman of the National Campaign Council of the PDP for the forthcoming off-cycle governorship election in Ondo State, Ademola Adeleke, has stated that some leaders of the party who defected to the ruling APC are inconsequential.

Adeleke, who stated this at the PDP’s secretariat in Akure, the state capital, while inaugurating the State Campaign Council headed by Dr Eddy Olafeso, said that the masses would determine who emerged victorious at the polls.