By Ayodele Oni
Former Deputy Governor of Ondo state, Mr Agboola Ajayi, has shown interest to contest the Senatorial seat of Ondo South next year, boasting that he would unseat the incumbent Senator Nicholas Tofowomo during next month’s primary election.
Ajayi, after he resigned as Deputy Governor, dumped the All Progressive Congress, (APC) and contested for the Primary election of People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) which he lost to Eyitayo Jegede.
He left PDP and became flagbearer of the Zenith Labour Party, (ZLP) during the 2020 Governorship election in the State, and came a distant third.
The former Deputy Governor is now back to the PDP where he is eyeing the Senate seat of Ondo South, currently being occupied by Senator Nicholas Tofowomo.
The Primary election which has been scheduled for May, by PDP; is now an issue for altercation between the former Deputy Governor and Senator Tofowomo.
The Senator accused Agboola Ajayi of planning to alter the delegates’ list to be used for the Primary.
Tofowomo, through his Media Aide, Olumide Akinrinlola, accused the former Deputy Governor of single-handedly submitting an Adhoc delegates list to the PDP Organising Secretary.
The Senator said in a statement that “The attention of Tofowomo Campaign Organisation (TCO) has been drawn to a statement made by Agboola Ajayi where he boasted to have singlehandedly written and submitted the list of Adhoc delegates to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Organising Secretary ahead of the Senatorial primary election in May this year.
“Ajayi made this statement while he was boasting about his chances of winning the party’s primary during a political meeting with PDP executives at Fabiyi Hall in Okitipupa town on Saturday, March 26, 2022.
“He boasted at the meeting that he’s working in collaboration with retired Capt. Umar Bature, the National Organising Secretary of the PDP in Abuja to win the PDP Senatorial primary in Ondo South”
In his reaction through his Media Aide, Allen Sowore, the former Deputy Governor faulted Tofowomo’s claim in a statement made available in Akure.
He said Ajayi never made such statement during the meeting held on Saturday 26th March 2022, in Fabiyi Hall, Okitipupa or anywhere else throughout his consultation tour of the South Senatorial District.
In the statement titled “Re: Agboola Ajayi Boasted To Have Submitted Adhoc Delegate List To PDP Organising Secretary”, Ajayi said, “For the purpose of clarity and to disabuse the minds of the unsuspecting members the general public, the former Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi never made such statement.
“Luckily, prominent leaders and members of our party, who can bear witness attended all the meetings held across the four local government areas of Ondo South District including the first meeting held on Friday 25th March, 2022, in the Idepe Town Hall, Okitipupa where the former Deputy Governor declared his interest to run for the South Senatorial District seat.
“We are not surprised that Senator Nicholas Tofowomo who’s already jittery of the imminent defeat staring him in the coming election can go this low to authorise his Media Director to spill this gibberish and unfounded allegation against the person of the former Deputy Governor of the state, member of the National Working Committee of our great party and most importantly a leading aspirant in South Senatorial District seat.
“Senator Nicholas Tofowomo should tell the people his achievements in the last three years; the justification for his reelection bid, instead of this campaign of calumny he embarked on against the former Deputy.”
