The reinstated Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Ondo State, Ayodele Olorunfemi, has expressed disappointment over his loss in Saturday’s election, attributing his defeat to former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), having swept all 18 local government areas in the state.
According to the State Returning Officer, Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi, Aiyedatiwa garnered 366,781 votes to defeat Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 117,845 votes. Declaring the result, Akinwumi said, “That Ayedatiwa Lucky Orimisan of the APC, having satisfied the requirement of the law, is hereby returned elected.”
Olorunfemi’s defeat came just days after the Court of Appeal reinstated him as the LP candidate for the November 16 election, overturning an earlier Federal High Court ruling that had recognized Olusola Ebiseni, a candidate reportedly backed by Peter Obi and the NLC.
In an interview with The Punch, Olorunfemi expressed frustration, vowing not to forgive Obi and the NLC for what he described as their role in sabotaging his campaign. He alleged that the crisis within the party and the insistence on Ebiseni as the LP candidate damaged his chances.
“They ruined my aspirations with their insistence on that PDP reject they wanted to impose on the party,” he lamented. “Ebiseni even forged a letter to the court in my name, claiming I had withdrawn from the race. This sabotage cost me dearly.”
Olorunfemi admitted that his reinstatement just days before the election left him little time for an effective campaign, describing his efforts as “neither here nor there.” While acknowledging the slim odds of winning under such circumstances, he vowed to seek justice, including petitioning the police to investigate the alleged forgery of his name and signature.
He also hinted at plans to hold Obi and the NLC accountable for their actions, declaring his determination to “get his pound of flesh” over the perceived betrayal.
