These are not the best of times for Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State and his Deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the information reaching us at the moment has it that the duo are fighting over the nomination of candidates.
This is coming prior to the forthcoming primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to sources in Ondo State, the deputy governor and some cabinet members are working for aspirants who the Governor and the party leaders have not chosen for some positions.
Sources said; “The governor and the party leaders, including the APC State Chairman, Ade Adetimehin, agreed on candidates for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate elections at the meeting held last week.”
“The party leaders and the governor have agreed to give Abayomi Akinruntan, the son of the Olugbo of Ugbo, a return ticket to the House of Assembly in exchange for his stepping down for former Information Commissioner, Donald Ojogo, who is running for the Ilaje/Ese-Odo House of Representatives seat.”
However, an APC chieftain in the state said; “Aiyedatiwa invited them to a meeting immediately and informed them that the Governor had rejected all of his recommendations for candidates in Ilaje and Ese-Odo.”
“As things stand now, there are moves in Ilaje and Ese-Odo by the deputy Governor. Aiyedatiwa is not happy that the governor rejected his candidate in Ilaje constituency 2 who was his Personal Assistant, Segun Iwalokun. There are many meetings that have been held between Thursday and now.”
“Despite the Governor’s directive that we should all work for the former information commissioner, Ojogo, the deputy governor is campaigning and working for one Goke Ayara from Apoi. Aiyedatiwa has held two meetings against Ojogo’s aspiration at his house in Akure. I was part of one.”
“They also held meetings and campaigned publicly that an Ijaw man is not fit to go for the House of Representatives in the federal constituency.”