•I won’t support anyone against APC, says gov
Fidelis David in Akure
Fresh political realignments in Ondo State have stirred controversy within the All Progressives Congress (APC), following allegations that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has shifted his support from the party’s Ondo South senatorial candidate, Isaac Kekemeke, to Mathew Oyerinmade, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Kekemeke, a former South-West Vice Chairman of the APC and known ally of the governor, was backed by Aiyedatiwa in the run-up to the party’s National Assembly primary, where he emerged as the APC candidate for Ondo South.
The governor had insisted on Kekemeke despite the fact that the Ondo South senatorial ticket was the only one among his three preferred senatorial choices across the state that was retained by the APC National Working Committee (NWC).
However, political developments in the state have fuelled speculation that Aiyedatiwa might have changed his position and thrown his weight behind Oyerinmade, a former APC member, who is now associated with the PDP and expected to contest the Ondo South senatorial seat.
The speculation has nevertheless generated debate among APC members, particularly over the alleged decision to abandon Kekemeke midway in favour of Oyerinmade, whose movement to the PDP has yet to be formally confirmed by the party in the public domain.
Oyerinmade had earlier been listed among Aiyedatiwa’s preferred aspirants for the Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo/Odigbo Federal Constituency during the APC primary. He subsequently lost the primary to Hon. Festus Adefiranye and challenged the outcome in court, but his case was dismissed.
Sources within political circles in the state have alleged that Oyerinmade’s decision to pursue the Ondo South senatorial ticket on the PDP platform had the backing of the governor.
There has, however, been no public confirmation from Aiyedatiwa that he is sponsoring the ambition.
But Governor Aiyedatiwa has through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Engagement, Steve Bayode Otaloro, said there was no truth whatsoever in the insinuation.
“Governor Aiyedatiwa is a committed member and leader of the APC in Ondo State. He has consistently demonstrated his loyalty to the progressive political family, dating back to the days of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which eventually metamorphosed into the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“It is therefore inconceivable that the Governor, who currently leads the APC in Ondo State, would deliberately pit his tent against the candidate of the same party in favour of a candidate contesting on the platform of another political party.
“The Governor has never authorised anyone to speak on his behalf in support of any opposition candidate, and any claim suggesting otherwise should be treated as false, mischievous and politically motivated.”
He noted that Governor Aiyedatiwa remained firmly committed to the APC and its candidates and his political loyalty and responsibility as the leader of the party in Ondo State do not permit him to engage in any action that would undermine the party he leads.