Jimoh Ibrahim planning to destroy Ondo APC: Aiyedatiwa’s Spokesperson

The internal crisis rocking the ruling Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state after its primary election seems unabated as Ebenezer Adeniyan, the spokesperson for Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has accused Jimoh Ibrahim of trying to destroy the party.

Mr Ibrahim is the senator representing Ondo South senatorial district at the National Assembly.

Speaking on a radio programme monitored by Peoples Gazette on Monday, Mr Adeniyan accused Mr Ibrahim of plans to destroy the ruling party for challenging the outcome of the primary in court.

“The case he (Ibrahim) instituted in the court has no leg to stand. In fact, he instituted it out of jurisdiction and the officials of INEC that he relied on have already replied to confirm they monitor the process.

“We know Jimoh Ibrahim very well. He is grandstanding. It is not about the case and he is not striving to win the case. We know he has PhD in war. He is just using the tactics to disrupt the party,” he said on Fresh 102.9 FM, Akure.

He explained that Mr Ibrahim, who had been enjoying the support of all party leaders and members earlier before the primary, has been ‘grandstanding’ since he lost the ticket.

Mr Adeniyan affirmed that the primary that produced the governor as the APC candidate was free and fair. He said no fewer than 10 other aspirants who jostled for the ticket but lost out had moved on and accepted the outcome.

He listed Mayowa Akinfolarin, Morayo Lebi, Dayo Faduyile, Soji Ehinlanwo, Diran Iyantan, Jimi Odimayo and Funmilayo Waheed-Adekojo as some of the contenders that have reached a truce with Mr Aiyedatiwa over the outcome of the primary exercise.

The governor’s spokesman added that only Mr Ibrahim, whom he noted was not satisfied with the outcome of the exercise, had refused to back up and support Mr Aiyedatiwa.

“Even during the campaign, we know he’s prepared for a case because he was doing publications (rap around) in front of the national dailies.

“We are prepared for him. So, for him, it is not about winning the case but about disrupting the exercise. We are sure that he is ready to go beyond the federal high court up till the Supreme Court if he does not get what he wants.”

While stressing that the governor had also extended an olive branch to all the aspirants that took part in the primary, Mr Adeniyan recalled that the senator was among the contenders reached for a truce.

“The meeting is about bringing party leaders and members together to ensure unity. All of us must come together to win the election. He is the only one now that is still grandstanding.

“At least 10 of the aspirants, if I’m not making a mistake, have come to declare their support for the governor. They have moved on and forgotten about the primary that produced Aiyedatiwa.

“For them, the main issue here is about getting victory for the party, APC, in the November governorship election,” he explained.

The Gazette recalled that Mr Ibrahim was suspended for anti-party activities by leaders of his Igbotako Ward II in Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state.

He, alongside 14 others, contested the ticket of the APC in the April 20 governorship primary and lost to Mr Aiyedatiwa. He then headed to the federal court to challenge the process.

His suspension came days after he filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking the nullification of the April 20 governorship primary, which produced Mr Aiyedatiwa as the APC’s candidate.

In the suit, he urges the court to cancel the shadow election, stop Mr Aiyedatiwa from parading himself as the APC candidate for the November governorship election, and exclude the party from participating in the exercise unless a fresh primary is held.

The Ondo senator also rebuffed appeals from the party leadership to team up with Mr Aiyedatiwa to ensure victory at the poll and vowed to pursue his ongoing legal tussle over the outcome of the primary exercise.

He maintained that the court should be allowed to decide the case of the primary.