The reinstated Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Ondo State, Mayodele Olorunfemi has attributed his defeat in Saturday’s election to the actions of former Anambra State governor Peter Obi and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Olorunfemi expressed his disappointment, claiming that the lack of support from Obi impacted his campaign.
The election resulted in Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) being declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after he dominated all 18 local government areas in Ondo State.
Aiyedatiwa garnered an impressive 366,781 votes, significantly outpacing his closest rival, Agboola Ajayi of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who secured 117,845 votes.
Professor Olayemi Akinwumi, the Ondo State Returning Officer, confirmed Aiyedatiwa’s victory, stating, “Ayedatiwa Lucky Orimisan of APC, having satisfied the requirement of the law, is hereby returned elected.”
Olorunfemi’s defeat came just days after the Court of Appeal reinstated him as the LP candidate, replacing Peter Obi’s preferred candidate, Olusola Ebiseni. The ruling overturned a Federal High Court judgment that had earlier disqualified him from the race.
In a post-election interview with The Punch, Olorunfemi expressed frustration with Obi and the NLC, accusing them of undermining his campaign. “I have Peter Obi and the NLC to thank for that. They scuttled my aspirations and chances to win this Ondo election,” he lamented.
He alleged that the party crisis and attempts to force Ebiseni onto the ballot disrupted his campaign efforts. “They capitalized on the crisis between the Labour Party and the NLC to create problems. Can you imagine that Ebiseni wrote a letter to the court in my name, without my knowledge, saying I had withdrawn from the race?”
Acknowledging that his chances were slim after the court’s decision reinstated him just days before the poll, Olorunfemi vowed to seek justice. He accused Ebiseni and the NLC of forging his signature and announced plans to petition the police for a thorough investigation.
The LP deputy chairman, South, described the entire episode as a betrayal and promised to take action against those he believed were responsible for sabotaging his campaign.
