Supporters Of Former Gov Aspirant In Ondo Protest Expulsion From APC, Write Caretaker Committee

By Ayodele Oni

A faction of the All Progressive Congress, (APC) in Ondo state has called on the national caretaker committee of the party to wade into the expulsion of a Governorship aspirant of the party, Mrs Jumoke Anifowose.

Mrs Anifowose, daughter of the first civilian Governor of old Ondo state, late Pa Adekunle Ajasin, was expelled from the APC after she lost her bid to cancel last year’s Governorship primary election at the Supreme Court.

Mrs Anifowose, along with others, had contested in the primary with Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, 2020, and following her displeasure in the outcome, headed to court to seek redress.

Despite pressures on her to drop the case, she pursued it up to the Supreme Court, which dismissed the matter.

However, immediately after the decision of the apex court, the leadership of the party in the state, announced her expulsion from the party.

In a letter to the Chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee, Governor Mai Mala Buni, the faction described Mrs Anifowose’s expulsion as vindictive and uncalled for.

According to the letter, the former Governorship aspirant will have no option than to challenge the decision in Court if the National leadership does not intervene.

Part of the letter reads, “We, the undersigned members of All Progressives Congress, in Ondo State write to complain about the above-mentioned subject-matter.

“Our silence in respect of the matter was borne out of the fact that the issues surrounding the initial suspension ought to have been justifiably settled by the leadership of the party at the state level.

‘It’s a big surprise to us that instead of resolving a local issue, we as individuals and collectively too have had a taste of the punitive action as we are being stigmatised for supporting Mrs Olajumoke Anifowoshe who is not only our leader but also our mentor.

“Your Excellency, it is a fact that our leader and mentor, Mrs. Olajumoke Anifowoshe contested with the incumbent governor of Ondo State at the primary election held on the 20th day of July 2020.

“It is also a fact that efforts were made to reconcile the parties involved after the outcome of the primary election. It is also a fact that our leader and mentor was asked for her terms for reconciliation which she submitted to the leadership through Chief Pius Akinyelure, the erstwhile South West Chairman of our party.

“It is also a fact that our leader and mentor was left in the dark after she had submitted her terms to the former South West leader – there was no response from the leaders and our leader up-till now has not been contacted by the party’s leadership.

“In view of the above and after exhausting all avenues for redress as provided for in the constitution of All Progressive Congress (April 2014 as amended), our leader and mentor had no alternative than to take her destiny in her hands by seeking redress in the court of law.

“It may not be too obvious to the current leadership of the party, but the following are germane for our leaders to know and confirm from the ordinary people across board in Ondo State, about the kind of person our leader and mentor is:

“She is of the progressive ilk right from her birth to the present time, being the daughter of our illustrious father and the first executive governor of old Ondo State (Ondo & Ekiti States), Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin.

“It is strange to us that somebody who has done so much for the party without asking for, or making any noise about, compensation could be so treated by the party in her ward and state.

“They forced the members of the exco. at the ward and state to suspend and expel her via the media and up till now she has not received any query or letters of suspension/expulsion from any arm of the party.

“We are, however, constrained to let the leadership of the party know that we may not have money and the wherewithal to do what the haters of our leader and mentor have done, but we have our thumbs which are useful when the need arises.

“In conclusion, we demand that good reason prevails. It is not this woman, our leader and mentor, that should be treated with so much disdain by her male counterparts. She is a star in the midst of them, the haters of ethical living.

“We appreciate the leadership of the party and believe the leadership will do well to redress this wrong and soften the hard stance the haters.”