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Tag: Ondo Deputy Governor

  • Ondo Deputy Governor, Ajayi, denies defection from PDP

    Ondo Deputy Governor, Ajayi, denies defection from PDP

    Ondo State Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, has dismissed claims about his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he only rejoined after resigning from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in order to fulfil his ambition of becoming the next Governor of the state.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Babatope Okeowo, faulted the claims that his principal has defected to the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), after he lost the PDP primary, to guarantee his participation in the October 10 Ondo governorship contest, against incumbent Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

    In a chat with Channels Television on Sunday, Okeowo disclosed that the deputy governor was under intense pressure from his supporters to contest for the election.
    However, he insisted that his principal has yet to declare for the ZLP or any other political party to contest the governorship election.

    File Photo: L-R: Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu; Ondo State, Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi.

    Sealing further, the deputy governor’s aide added that Ajayi has yet to take a decision on his next political move, saying he would likely make a declaration before the end of the week.

    According to a Channels Television report, the Publicity Secretary of ZLP in Ondo, Felix Olatunde, revealee that the party has adopted Ajayi as its governorship candidate.

    In his explanation, Olatunde stated that plans were being perfected to ensure that was done, noting that the candidate of the party, Rotimi Benjamin, had stepped down for the deputy governor.

    Meanwhile, the PDP Publicity Secretary in the state, Zadok Akintoye, had issued a statement that Ajayi was still a member of the party.

    The deputy governor defected from the APC to the PDP in June to fight for the party’s governorship ticket in the primary but lost to Mr Eyitayo Jegede.

    Thereafter, some of his supporters agitated that Ajayi be picked as Jegede’s running mate, but that was not the case as another person was chosen for the position.

    The deputy governor’s exit from the APC followed a disagreement between him and the state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who emerged the candidate of the his party, APC.

  • You don’t meet constitutional requirements to impeach Deputy Gov. – Ondo Chief Judge

    You don’t meet constitutional requirements to impeach Deputy Gov. – Ondo Chief Judge

    Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice Oluwatoyin Akeredolu, has explained why she could not set up a seven-man investigative panel for the impeachment proceeding against the state’s Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi.

    The chief judge explained that she could not constitute the panel until all constitutional processes are followed.

    It would be recalled that Ondo State Speaker, Bamidele Oleyelogun, had written to the chief judge, informing her that impeachment notice has been served on Ajayi, which was signed by 14 lawmakers.

    Oleyelogun informed Justice Akeredolu that setting up of the panel was in line with section 188 (5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

    READ ALSO: Ondo 2020: INEC prescribes mode for primaries, quells speculations

    “By the Resolution of the House today pursuant to Section 188 (3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution as amended it was resolved that the allegations be investigated forthwith.

    “It is in line with the above that we request you set up the seven-man panel to conduct the investigation as resolved by the Honourable House, and the Panel report back to the House,” reads a letter to the chief judge by the speaker.

    The chief judge, however, in a letter dated July 9 and addressed to the Speaker, said the lawmakers have not completed the constitutional process that would lead the Speaker to invite her to set up an investigative panel as stipulated by the constitution.

    Justice Akeredolu said she also received a letter from Kayode Olatoke SAN that the matter of the impeachment of Ajayi was subjudice.

    The chief judge said: “The Deputy Governor, Hon. Alfred Agboola Ajayi, must be served with notice of impeachment signed by not less than one-third of members of the House of Assembly of the state.

    “The notice to be served on him must state that he is guilty of gross misconduct in the performance of the functions of his office and must specify the particulars of the gross misconduct.

    “He must be allowed to respond to the allegations.

    “Within 14 days of receipt of the notice of the Honourable Speaker, whether or not the Deputy Governor responds, the House of Assembly shall pass a resolution supported by not less than two thirds majority of all the members of the House of Assembly that the allegations be investigated.”

    Idowu Sowunmi