Ondo guber: Crisis rocks Ilaje PDP over aspirant

By  Josephine Oguntoyinbo
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The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chapter in Ilaje local government area of Ondo State is now embroiled in crisis as political activities gear up momentum ahead of the  State governorship election slated for October 10, 2020.

The internal wranglings are occasioned by the alleged endorsement of one of the PDP gubernatorial aspirants from Ilaje area, Mr Banji Okunomo by the party’s local government chapter and wards executives in the area.

Banji Okunomo is amongst the three aspirants from Ilaje Local Government with A federal lawmaker, Kolade Akinjo and former Commissioner for Environment, Sola Ebiseni.

The purported endorsement of Okunomo has however been brewing crisis among political stakeholders in the party.

A former Publicity Secretary of PDP in Ondo State, Banji Okunomo had revealed a document showing a consensus endorsement of his gubernatorial aspiration by Ilaje chapter of the party but such claim has been countered by some local government executives of the party as untrue, noting that no aspirant had been endorsed by them.

“The entire public and all PDP leaders and delegateshould disregard the purported barbaric and evil endorsement being circulated on social media. Banji Okunomo’s myopic endorsement is null and void,” The Chairnan of Mahin Ward 1,Mr Erejuwa Omotere said in a statement posted on social media.

Also another Ward Chairman of Mahin Ward 11 ,Mr Moses Ogungbure also denied the controversial endorsement.

“Truly, I was invited for a meeting at Domfav Hotel on 6th May, 2020 at the instance of Banji Okunomo. For the purpose of clarity, we never endorse his gubernatorial aspiration,the participants in the meeting only signed the attendant sheet”,he emphasised.

Also,the Chairman of Ugbo ward V, Mr Elumero Hope equally disapproved the alleged endorsement.

However, the Chief Scribe of the Party in Ilaje local government Mr Banjo Ikuenogbon in a press statement have said, “21 Executive members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State have reaffirmed their early endorsement of Banji Ben Okunomo as their sole governorship aspirant of the Party from Ilaje Local Government Council.

“For the record, when Okunomo was endorsed, 21 of us came together to endorse him. 21 out of 30 local government excos resolved for Okunomo and we signed a joint paper and appended our signatures and designations on the same .

“Our endorsement is not an embargo that can stop any of the aspirants from buying the nomination form of the party to participate in the upcoming PDP primary.

“While we set up a reconciliation committee, we enjoin all the aspirants that are not happy with our decision to sheath their swords by allowing the interest of the local government to be paramount in their hearts instead of their personal political interests”,he said.