The Traffic

“Betrayed by My Own: Ondo LP Candidate Points Fingers at Obi, NLC for Poll Defeat”

By Achimi Muktar

In a dramatic twist to the Ondo State gubernatorial elections, Labour Party (LP) candidate Ayodele Olorunfemi has squarely blamed former LP presidential candidate Peter Obi and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for his loss.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerged victorious in the fiercely contested election, sweeping all 18 local government areas with a decisive 366,781 votes. The closest challenger, Agboola Ajayi of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), secured 117,845 votes, leaving Olorunfemi and others in the dust.

From Courtroom Victory to Electoral Defeat

Olorunfemi’s troubles began long before election day. Just days before the November 16 poll, the Court of Appeal reinstated him as the LP candidate, overturning a prior Federal High Court ruling that had recognized Olusola Ebiseni—Peter Obi’s preferred choice—as the flagbearer.

Despite this legal win, Olorunfemi’s campaign was in shambles. “Peter Obi and the NLC sabotaged my chances,” he lamented in an interview. “Their insistence on imposing Ebiseni, a PDP reject, created chaos within the party. They ruined everything for me.”

He accused Ebiseni and the NLC of orchestrating a smear campaign, alleging that a forged letter of withdrawal, purportedly signed by him, was presented to the court.

A Bitter Fallout

Olorunfemi vowed to seek justice, promising to petition the Inspector General of Police to investigate the alleged forgery.

“They tried to force me out of the race behind my back,” he said. “This was criminal. Thank God the court ruled in my favor, but the damage had already been done.”

NLC Fires Back

Responding to the allegations, Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku, acting chairman of the NLC Political Commission, dismissed Olorunfemi’s claims, branding him a “very funny character.”

“He was never serious about this election,” Ndubuaku stated. “He was merely a placeholder who shopped around for buyers of the ticket. When Ebiseni paid N25 million to secure the ticket, Olorunfemi reneged, sparking the legal tussle.”

Ndubuaku further alleged that Olorunfemi had covertly worked for the APC, undermining the LP’s efforts.

Silence from Key Figures

Efforts to reach Peter Obi and Olusola Ebiseni for comments were unsuccessful as of press time. However, the controversy has cast a shadow over the Labour Party, raising questions about internal cohesion and the role of external influences in its Ondo State campaign.

A Painful Lesson for Labour Party

For Olorunfemi, the loss is more than an electoral setback; it’s a personal betrayal by figures he once considered allies. As he picks up the pieces, his story serves as a stark reminder of the high-stakes drama that often defines Nigerian politics.

What remains to be seen is how these allegations will impact the Labour Party’s broader aspirations and whether the internal conflicts will lead to lasting reforms—or further fractures.