₦airaland Forum

* I Won't Join PDP, Ajayi Insists

Barely six months to the gov­ernorship election in Ondo State, there are strong indi­cations that the deputy gov­ernor, Agboola Ajayi, may be left stranded in the scheme of things, Daily Independent has gathered.

This development is not un­connected with two main is­sues: Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has reportedly resolved to drop his once powerful and trusted deputy while the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has decided to keep a distance from the onetime House of Representatives’ member.

Amid denials by Ajayi to that effect, the PDP has been consistently touted as the dep­uty governor’s Plan B in case Governor Akeredolu makes real his plans not to pair with him.

The posture of the PDP, although unknown to the deputy governor until last week, according to findings, revolves around fears that the ruling All Progressives Con­gress (APC) might influence a legal action through a par­ty (PDP) proxy to ambush the opposition should it go ahead to win the October 10, 2020 governorship contest.

According to a chieftain in the opposition PDP, who spoke on condition of an­onymity, the Ondo deputy governor was the party’s first consideration before a team of legal experts within the party advised against any such move.

“Our initial consideration was that someone from the South should be our candi­date and we looked around and almost resolved on the deputy governor because he already has what it takes to battle Aketi.

“One of the reasons we were seeing gum as our po­tential candidate was because he has the war chest; he also knows the inner workings of the governor and the govern­ment to know how and when to hit hard on the system.

“Already, plans had reached an advanced stage for him to pull the string of resignations and defections because he had met with two main governors and the coast was clear until last week. Many APC lead­ers were to follow him to our party.

“But there was this advice which came from a team of legal minds who made refer­ence to a petition against the deputy governor in respect of allegations bordering on school certificate results or examinations.

“We are careful not to run into any legal ambush because we know that the APC is already apprehensive that the deputy may run on our platform and they are plotting seriously to lay the trap to re-enact the Bayel­sa pre-election scenario. It seems we are stuck and can’t play that dangerous game with Agboola.

“For now, we can’t forge ahead with that plan and we are back to our first level of planning that the candidate can come from any of the three senatorial districts. We can only pick our best in that regard,” he said.

Ajayi was allegedly en­meshed in examination mal­practices and perjury scan­dals, with a report already made to the Inspector Gen­eral of Police (IGP) seeking immediate investigation of the alleged scams and trial at the appropriate time.

Documents made avail­able to our correspondent indicated that while serv­ing as chairman of Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State, the embattled deputy governor registered for the 2004 May/June Senior School Certificate Examina­tion as a full-time student of Community High School, Mobolorunduro, in Okitipu­pa with registration number 4291420/058.

In the petition to the IGP by Lawrence Iloh of Law MMAYIE & Associates, dated June 25, 2019, Agboola also al­legedly used December 8, 1980 as his date of birth in order to be eligible as an internal student of Community High School, Mobolorunduro, but he later deposed to an affida­vit for correction of date of birth on March 9, 2006, at the Federal High Court, Akure, stating that he was born on September 24, 1968.

The petition, written on behalf of Mr. Akinloye Oy­eniyi, read: “It is the position of our client that Honourable Agboola Ajayi registered for the 2004 May/June Senior School Certificate Examina­tion as a full-time student of Community High School, Mobolorunduro, with regis­tration number 4291420/058.

“That contrary to the gen­eral regulations for the ex­amination, a bye law made pursuant to Section 23 (9) (1a) and (2) of the West African Examination Council Act Vol. 15 Cap. 104, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2014 which stipulates that a candi­date for its May/June exam­ination should be a student in a school approved as a centre for the examination, Hon. Ag­boola Ajayi was at the materi­al time he claimed to have sat for the examination a sitting chairman of Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

“That since as a council chairman, Honourable Ag­boola Ajayi could not have enrolled and sat for the May/ June 2004 Senior School Certificate Examination or­ganised by the West African Examination Council as a full-time student of Commu­nity High School, Mobolo­runduro, it stands to reason that Honourable Agboola Ajayi must have procured the SSCE certificate number NGWASSCS5529745 fraudu­lently possibly by proxy con­trary to the provisions of the Examination Malpractices Act 1999, Laws of Nigeria.

“If the above situation is not correct, then he must have abdicated his consti­tutional duties as elected chairman of Ese-Odo LGA between 2003 and 2007 and for which he collected sala­ries fully.

“Very importantly, Mr. Agboola perjured by stating that his date of birth on the WAEC OMR form, which he personally filled in 2004 was December 8, 1980 in order to be eligible as internal student of Community High School, Mobolorunduro, but he later deposed to an affidavit for cor­rection of date of birth on the 9th of March, 2006 at Federal High Court, Akure wherein he stated that he was born on 24th of September, 1968.

His reason for this affida­vit was because he wanted to contest an election to the House of Representatives in 2007, which he won.

“Our client is not unaware that as a sitting deputy gov­ernor of Ondo State, Hon. Agboola Ajayi is immune from prosecution by virtue of Section 308, constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), but it is the position of our client that the immunity under this section does not cover criminal investigation. See the case of Tinubu & Ors V. I.M.B Securities Ltd 2001 LPELR-3248 SC, Suit No. SC 32/2001.

“We have the instructions of our client therefore to urge you to kindly commence in­vestigations into the allega­tions of examination mal­practices and perjury against Honourable Agboola Ajayi with a view to bringing him to justice at the appropriate time. We trust that you would do justice in this matter.”

However, in a statement, Babatope Okeowo, the Dep­uty Chief Press Secretary, who is the media aide to the deputy governor, denied the claim that his principal was politically stranded or mak­ing moves to join the PDP. He also described as fake news reports that the deputy gov­ernor had been campaigning on the platform of the PDP.

The statement read: “The attention of the deputy gov­ernor of Ondo State, Hon Ag­boola Alfred Ajayi, has been drawn to a purported video where a campaign jingle with the Peoples Democratic Par­ty’s (PDP) logo was aired on his behalf.

“This is to let the general public know that this video, which was poorly done, did not emanate from the deputy governor of Ondo State, nei­ther did it have his support.

“Let it be made known that the deputy governor is a member of the All Progres­sives Congress (APC) and has not declared any governor­ship ambition.

“Recall that a WhatsApp group, titled ‘Agboola Ajayi 4 Sure 2020’, was created last year by Omobone Tunde to champion the governorship ambition of the deputy gov­ernor.

“The man in question has denied having anything to do with the WhatsApp group. The deputy governor has also said these characters who see blackmail and propaganda as legitimate tools would paste his governorship posters.

“This is clearly the handi­work of some characters who are bent on creating dishar­mony in the political space of Ondo State. Once again, the deputy governor did not au­thorise the purported video or any poster that may ema­nate from these people.”

On the political future of the deputy governor, Oke­owo, in a text message, said: “There is nothing that sug­gest that Agboola Ajayi is stranded politically.”
https://www.independent.ng/ondo-2020-embattled-deputy-gov-may-be-stranded/

What about Oshiomhole's legs as APC chair?

Even Akeredolu's legs are shaking as Oshiomhole will not give him the ticket for anti-party activities. PDP may reclaim Ondo state

Will read it later.

Dont be a lazy yoot

mopol123:
Will read it later.

bolaayenimo:
What about Oshiomhole's legs as APC chair?

Even Akeredolu's legs are shaking as Oshiomhole will not give him the ticket for anti-party activities. PDP may reclaim Ondo state

Nah oshiomhole dey give people tickets abi



Either ways.

I know Akeredolu will win this election.
God bless Ondo State

Ajayi was allegedly en­meshed in examination mal­practices and perjury scan­dals, with a report already made to the Inspector Gen­eral of Police (IGP) seeking immediate investigation of the alleged scams and trial at the appropriate time.

So was this alleged criminality discovered before he was elected with Aketi or after they fell apart? Now the over ambitious deputy governor is being treated as a plague.Why are Nigerian politicians like this for God's sake

Maybe what happened in Bayelsa may happen In Ondo too

Racoon:
So was this alleged criminality discovered before he was elected with Aketi or after they fell apart? Now the over ambitious deputy governor is being treated as a plague.Why are Nigerian politicians like this for God's sake

This one nor concern me, abeg who fit teach me how to quote someone? Will like to learn how to bastardise some niggers

Just click quote and type your comment under it

Faddd:
This one nor concern me, abeg who fit teach me how to quote someone? Will like to learn how to bastardise some niggers

bolaayenimo:
Just click quote and type your comment under it

Like this?

Exactly

Faddd:
Like this?

Just stick to your own plan and shine your eyes so that you don't fall into OSHIOMOLE's trap

they have no plan. Action Alliance is not popular in Ondo

Jostoman:
Just stick to your own plan and shine your eyes so that you don't fall into OSHIOMOLE's trap