Ondo state is bracing up for another governorship election, one that will either see the incumbent, Rotimi akeredolu elected for a second term or an opposition candidate taking the reins of power.
Ahead of the election on October 10, intense political manoeuvrings and re-alignments are taking place, top among which was the defection of the deputy governor, Agboola ajayi from the ruling all progressives congress, APC to the opposition, peoples democratic party, PDP.
The singular action by the deputy governor has precipitated several other moves by the major political actors in the state.
It all began as a rumour as is usually the case with politics until it became an open secret that the relationship between Governor Akeredolu and his deputy was deteriorating over their political ambitions. On the 21st of June, it became officially confirmed that there was no love lost between the two occupants of the Government House in Akure, the state capital.
It was the day Ajayi announced his defection from APC which is the party he ran on a joint ticket with Governor Akeredolu in 2016, and was afterwards accepted with open arms into his new political family, the PDP. As most political divorce goes, this one was expectedly contentious.
Ajayi’s attempt to move his personal properties out of his official residence a day before his defection was stopped by the Commissioner of Police, ostensibly on the orders of the Governor. He was held down with his aides, in what Ajayi called house arrest.
The reason for Ajayi’s defection is not far-fetched. The Deputy Governor has thrown his hat in the ring for the governorship contest, against his boss, Governor Akeredolu, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the APC and is favoured to emerge as the ruling party’s candidate.
His defection has also unavoidably changed the political calculations and permutations ahead of the October 10 Governorship election, most especially in the camp of the PDP. Ajayi appears to be building his support base, with his followers and high profile resignations including that of the Secretary to the State Government, Ifedayo Abegunde.
The development has further deepened the political unease in both the APC and PDP camps in the State. This played out last week when the Ondo State House of Assembly commenced impeachment moves against the
Deputy Governor
At least 14 members of the State House of Assembly signed the impeachment notice, a position vehemently opposed by 9 other lawmakers. In the midst of this, came the suspension of 3 of the lawmakers opposed to the impeachment, for purportedly disobeying standing rules of the
House. The crisis in the Assembly also led to the resignation of the Majority Leader, Sulaiman Maito.
The politics of impeachment of the Deputy Governor appears to have hit a snag. Out of the 26 members of the State House of Assembly, the APC has 23, PDP has 3, while the Zenith Labour Party, has 1.
However, 9 members are already opposed to the impeachment including 6 members of the APC, meaning the APC may not have the two-third needed to execute the impeachment plot.
Also, the judiciary in Ondo State has demonstrated its apolitical stance after the State Chief Judge, Justice Oluwatoyin Akeredolu on Friday rejected the invitation by the Assembly to set-up of a probe panel on the allegations levelled against the Deputy Governor.
As the plot unfolds, it remains to be seen in the coming weeks who takes the advantage in the political drama towards the October 10 Governorship election in Ondo State.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
