Ayodele Olorunfemi, the reinstated Labour Party governorship candidate for the recent Ondo State election, has announced plans to petition the Inspector General of Police regarding allegations of forgery involving his signature. This controversy centers around Olusola Ebiseni, who was initially the party’s candidate until a Court of Appeal ruling reinstated Olorunfemi shortly before the election.
In an interview with The PUNCH, Olorunfemi expressed disappointment over his electoral defeat to incumbent Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC), attributing his poor performance to the actions of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). He claimed their insistence on Ebiseni’s candidacy undermined his campaign, alleging that Ebiseni submitted a letter to the court claiming Olorunfemi had withdrawn from the race without his consent.
Olorunfemi criticized the alleged manipulation, stating, “You cannot force someone to withdraw. What they have done was an attempt to force me behind my back.” He also indicated that he would pursue legal action to investigate the circumstances surrounding the submission of the letter.
Ebiseni, for his part, contended that he had paid Olorunfemi a total of N25 million for the governorship ticket but accused Olorunfemi of not relinquishing control of the ticket. While Olorunfemi has not directly denied the payment claims, he maintains that any withdrawal from the race must be voluntary.
The acting Chairman of the NLC Political Commission, Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku, dismissed Olorunfemi’s claims, labeling him as untrustworthy and suggesting he was working in favor of the APC. Ndubuaku recounted the events leading to the court case, alleging that Olorunfemi had sought to profit from the ticket and had attempted to undermine Ebiseni’s candidacy.
As the political drama unfolds, Olorunfemi remains focused on addressing the alleged forgery and the implications it has for his political future.