News

Ondo Deputy Gov. Agboola Ajayi Officially Defects to Zenith Labour Party

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As the race for the October 10 governorship election hots up, the Ondo State Deputy Governor, Mr  Agboola Ajayi says he is changing his political platforms in recent time to rescue the people of the state from underdevelopment and untold hardship.

Mr Ajayi stated this in Akure while officially defecting to the Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, few days after resigning from the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP).

The deputy governor, who left the ruling APC about sixty days ago and spent 50 days in the PDP, explained that his decision to join the ZLP was to advance his governorship aspiration.

The ZLP governorship candidate noted that the Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s administration had not lived up to the people’s expectations, pointing out that the outrageous tuition of the state tertiary institutions would be reversed if he was elected as the governor.

Receiving the deputy governor at a rally attended by hundreds of party faithful, the State Chairman of ZLP, Chief Joseph Akinlaja, expressed optimism that Mr Agboola Ajayi would lead the party to victory against the APC and the PDP.

Some former commissioners and lawmakers defected to the ZLP with the Deputy Governor.

Leke Adegbite

Politics

Ajayi’s exit is of no concern to us – Ondo PDP

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The People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Ondo State has received the exit of Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi from the Party, from online publications.

As a party, we are have not received his letter of resignation but we wish him well in his political journey.

Agboola Ajayi joined our party on 22nd June, 2020 and participated at the Governorship Primaries having received waver from the National Secretariat of the party.

He has abused the welcome and privilege accorded him by our party supporters during his brief stay in the party.

He has also proved that he is desperate to become the governor of Ondo State.

In the days to come, it will dawn on him that, he has squandered whatever was remaining of his goodwill with this decision.

However, his exit from the PDP will not affect our prospects of winning the October Gubernatorial Elections this year.

The PDP remains solid, strong and more determined than ever before to win the forthcoming Governorship elections with a credible and competent Candidate in the person of Eyitayo Jegede, SAN.

Kennedy Ikantu Peretei

State Publicity Secretary, PDP, Ondo State

10th August, 2020.

Politics

Ondo Guber Polls: Deputy Governor, Ajayi Resigns from PDP

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Ondo State Deputy Governor, His Excellency Agboola Ajayi has resigned his membership of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. 

The Deputy Governor appreciates the National Leadership and members of the party for their warm reception and acceptance in the short period he rejoined the party.

This decision is as a result of the call on the Deputy Governor by majority of the good people of Ondo State to give hope to the hopeless, provide credible and purposeful leadership in our dear state.

The chairman of the PDP in Apoi Ward II of Ese-Odo Local Government Area, Festus Oboro acknowledged the receipt of the resignation letter on 9th of August, 2020. 

It would be recalled that the Deputy Governor rejoined the PDP on June 21st, 2020, at his home town, Kiribo and contested as the governorship candidate of the party in the party’s primary election held on 22nd of July, 2020. 

He wishes to reassure his teeming supporters to remain focused and committed as he will be announcing his next line of action shortly. 

God bless Ondo State.

Comrade Allen Sowore

Media Adviser to the Deputy Governor

9th August, 2020.

News

Impeachment Plot: ODHA Suspends Deputy Speaker, 2 Others

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The impeachment plot to oust the embattled deputy governor of Ondo State, Mr Agboola Ajayi thickened with the Ondo State House of Assembly, ODHA, suspending the deputy speaker, Iroju Ogundeji of Odigbo 1 constituency and two others.

The three including William Adewale, Ondo West constituency 2 and the only female lawmaker, Favor Tomomewo, of Ilaje Constituency 2 were suspended for acts of indiscipline and disregard for House rules of engagement.

The lawmakers at a plenary presided over by the Speaker, Mr Bamidele Oleyelogun also announced that an ad hoc committee would be set up to look at the veracity of the action of the lawmakers.

The Clerk of the House, Mr Bode Adeyelu also read a letter from the Majority Leader, Mr Jamiu Maito , Akoko North West constituency announcing his resignation which the house accepted but expressed surprise over the decision.

The suspension of the three members raised dust that brought the plenary to an abrupt end.

Radio Nigeria correspondent, reports that there was tension outside the chamber as the lawmakers traded accusations over allegation of inducement to impeach the deputy governor, Mr Agboola Ajayi.

Security personnel were however on ground to prevent any violent moves.

Olumide Abudu

About Us Politics

Ondo House of Assembly Set to Impeach Agboola

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The Ondo State House of Assembly has moved to serve impeachment notice on the embattled Deputy Governor, Mr Agboola Ajayi.

The lawmakers at a plenary presided over by the Speaker, Mr Bamidele Oleyelogun alleged the deputy governor of gross misconducts.

Citing necessary portion of the constitution, the Speaker directs that the notice be served on the deputy governor, Mr Agboola Ajayi.

Mr Oleyelogun claimed that fourteen members signed the document backing the impeachment process.

Radio Nigeria correspondent, Olumide Abudu reports that the event took a different turn as nine members led by the Deputy Speaker, Mr Iroju Ogundeji, dissociated self from the purported impeachment process based on personal convictions.

The nine members noted that the fourteen members who claimed to have signed the document failed to meet quorum as stipulated in the constitution maintaining that such move would not work out.

Meanwhile security had earlier been beefed up at the entrance to the assembly complex to avoid unforeseen circumstances.

Olumide Abudu

Politics

We cannot be induced or swayed from true democratic values – ODHA Members

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The Ondo State House of Assembly, ODHA, has debunked the rumour making the rounds that members received the sum of ten million naira each to fast-track the impeachment process of the embattled deputy governor, Chief Agboola Ajayi.

The lawmakers in a statement by the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Mr Olugbenga Omole and made available to newsmen described the allegation as unfounded and an attempt to create enmity between the executive and legislature.

The statement indicates that the lawmakers claimed they cannot be induced as they represent the interests of the people of the state.

The lawmakers expressed their unalloyed support to the developmental strides of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and true democratic values.

They cautioned the embattled deputy governor to avoid implicating the lawmakers in a bid to carry his cross.

The lawmakers urged the people of the state to disregard the rumour and go about their lawful dealings without fear.

Olumide Abudu

Politics

Ondo Guber Race: Deputy Governor Defects to PDP

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Ondo State Deputy Governor, Mr Agboola Ajayi has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, dumping the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The Deputy Governor resigned his membership of the APC at Ward 2, Apoi, In Ese Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

This came a day after he was prevented from moving out of the government house in Akure with his pilot vehicle.

While picking his PDP membership card, Mr Agboola Ajayi said he was returning to the PDP being one of the founding fathers of the party.

Receiving the deputy governor, PDP chairman in Apoi Ward 2, Mr Festus Oboro said Mr Agboola had simply returned home promising that the party would support him in all ways.

The deputy governor’s resignation from APC puts an end to the speculation trailing his planned defection.

The Press Secretary to the deputy governor, Mr Tope Okeowo in a chat with Radio Nigeria confirmed that Mr Ajayi has also obtained the PDP membership card.

He is expected to be received at the PDP Secretariat in Akure within the week.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi has shown interest in the governorship contest saying he would participate in the PDP primary with other qualified aspirants. 

Mr. Ajayi debunked speculations that he had been adopted as the PDP governorship by the National Working Committee of the party.

The Deputy Governor in a statement signed by his press secretary, Tope Okeowo promised not to undermine the peaceful atmosphere that attracted him to the PDP.

Olumide Abudu

Politics

I did not bar Ajayi from leaving the Government House – Akeredolu

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It was a few hours of mild drama at the Ondo State Government House on Saturday when the Deputy Governor, Mr Agboola Ajayi was barred from moving out of the government house with his pilot vehicle.

In a short video that had since gone viral, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Bolaji Salami was seen preventing Mr Agboola from leaving with the said vehicle claiming that it belonged to the government.

Mr Salami noted that the letter notifying him of the deputy governor’s defection to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was already on his table at the police headquarters at Igbatoro road, hence the need for Mr Agboola to drop the vehicle as he could no longer be in possession of government property.

The Deputy Governor initially opposed to the order of the Police commissioner saying he was being used against him.

After some hours of argument however, Mr Ajayi surrendered the vehicle which he ordered to be parked at the entrance of the government house.

This is coming just as the Deputy Governor plans to dump the All Progressives today.

There have been whispers about rancor between the governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and his deputy, Agboola Ajayi in recent times before the event of Saturday night which political observers said could have adverse effect on the development agenda of the present administration in Ondo state.

Meanwhile, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has debunked stories making the round especially on the social media that his deputy, Agboola Ajayi has been stopped from leaving Government house.

Governor Akeredolu in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Segun Ajiboye describes the stories as falsehood intended to play victim by the principal actors involved.

The governor sees the story claiming the Ondo State Police Command restrained the Deputy Governor from leaving the Government House on his directive as one meant to discredit him.

The statement describes it as worrisome and suspicious when aides of the Deputy Governor insisted on leaving the premises with items of unclear ownership as late as eleven o’clock at night.

Governor Akeredolu reiterates his commitment to the rights of all, including the Deputy Governor but with a duty to be firm and dispassionate in exercising the roles assigned to him.

Olorunferanmi Odofin