Society Gists

Following the unresolved internal crisis that is rocking the Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, a senatorial aspirant of the party, Dr Tunji Abayomi,  has defected from the ruling party to the Action Alliance.

Abayomi, a close associate of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, made the announcement on Saturday, few hours to the deadline given to political parties by the Independent National Electoral Commission, to submit the final list of their candidates for the 2019 general election.

He claimed to have won the senatorial ticket of the APC to contest the senatorial election to represent Ondo North Senatorial District at the upper legislative chamber. He also alleged that the national leadership of the party gave the ticket to the serving Senator, Ajayi Boroffice automatically at his expense.

In a letter to the state governor on Saturday, the legal practitioner and human rights activist  said he took the decision to dump the APC because he was cheated by its national leadership.

He noted that the APC leaders  did not follow the constitution of the party during the last primarily election, saying “the present leadership of APC at the national level has decided to take away my right to be nominated by its unlawful ‘automatic ticket’ for all present senators from Ondo State.”

He said, “ The national leadership has appointed its candidate but now our people in the Ondo North Senatorial zone must have a chance to choose their candidate against Adams Oshiomhole’s appointed candidates. We are Ondo State people, our character is to fight for our rights and insist on these rights.

“You may wish to note that on the 3rd and 4th of October, after following all party processes including all payments, and expenses at various party levels, I wrote to the National Chairman of APC and APC NEC as the constitution of APC requires to allow fair play but got no reply.

“In keeping with long standing determination to fight for my right, I will run for the senate in Ondo North Senatorial Zone on the platform of Action Alliance since the national leadership of APC under Adams Oshiomhole has unconstitutionally blocked my chance by forcing its candidates on us all.”

However, it was not clear yet if Abayomi would resign his position as the current Pro-chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko.