Ondo Guber: PDP Candidate and Party Clash Over Campaign Council

A crisis erupted within the Ondo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday over the formation of the campaign council for the upcoming off-cycle governorship election.

The party clashed with its governorship candidate, Agboola Ajayi, accusing him of not involving the party in appointing members to the campaign council.

Ajayi announced through his spokesperson, Samuel Ogunmusi, that the former National Vice Chairman (South West) of the party, Eddy Olafeso, will serve as the Chairman of the Ajayi Campaign Council. Ogunmusi also named former state party chairman, Clement Faboyede, as the Director General of the Campaign Council, with John Ola-Mafo as Director General (Special Duties) and Deji Aseniserare as Secretary.

In response, the party’s publicity secretary, Kennedy Peretei, criticized Ajayi’s actions as embarrassing and contrary to the party’s constitution.

Peretei stated, “The announcement by one Samuel Ogunmusi appointing persons to coordinate the campaigns of H.E. Agboola Ajayi for the November election is not only embarrassing but a violation of the PDP Constitution (2017 as amended). Articles 46(1) and 40(1)(a)(b) and (c) do not permit such announcements coming from individuals not known to the party. To such an extent, all the supposed announcements are null, void, and of no effect.

“Our party is an organized party, guided by the rule of law. At the appropriate time, appointments for the Local Campaign Council will be made public,” he said.