Ajayi chides Ondo commissioner for twisting debate’s performance

• Osun indigenes in Ondo endorse PDP’s candidate
• Sensitive materials will arrive next week Tuesday

The campaign organisation of Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has berated the Commissioner for Information in the state, Wale Akinlosotu, for allegedly twisting the performance of the governorship debate in favour of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

According to the campaign organisation, in a statement by Ayo Fadaka, the Special Adviser to the standard-bearer of the party, Agboola Ajayi, the commissioner distorted the actual situation that happened during the debate, ahead of the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State.

Fadaka, while emphasising that Ajayi roundly defeated the governor during the debate, said that the governor exhibited traits of ’emptiness’ in his capacity to lead the state.

He said: “Our attention has been attracted to a statement credited to the Ondo State Commissioner for Information, Wale Akinlosotu’s statement to the effect that his boss, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, performed at the governorship debate between him and our candidate, Alfred Agboola Ajayi.

“To say the least, the statement is a misrepresentation of facts and a true reflection of the event, which remains fresh in the memory of the people and is still obtainable on the Internet.”

Meanwhile, Osun State indigenes based in Ondo State have endorsed Ajayi ahead of the governorship election in the state. The indigenes, who converged on the Press Centre of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Akure, Ondo State, said that they would mobilise support for the PDP’s candidate based on his welfare programme for the state.

According to the leader of the group, Kehinde Ayinla, the indigenes decided to support Ajayi due to his political antecedent and experience, adding that they will vote en masse for Ajayi.

However, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, told the indigenes that the best way for the people to express their love for him is to cast their votes for Ajayi on November 16.

Adeleke, who said he was impressed by the crowd, said: “If only the people in the capacity-filled hall could translate this number to votes for Ajayi, he would win the election.”

He stressed the need to vote out the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state for lacking meaningful development plans for the country and the state and its citizens but focusing solely on political power.

He said that the suffering experienced by Nigerians, regardless of their status and religion, should serve as a lesson that must not be repeated in the future, and APC should be voted out of power.

Adeleke, therefore, urged the Ondo State indigenes to vote Ajayi to enable the state join the league of states witnessing unprecedented developments in South-west region.

HOWEVER, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that before the commencement of the Ondo State election, candidates of political parties, media, observers, and security agencies, among others, will inspect sensitive materials before distribution to the 18 councils of the state.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who disclosed this during a visit to the council offices of the electoral body in the state, reiterated the readiness of the commission for the poll.

According to Yakubu, the sensitive materials for the poll will arrive in the state next week Tuesday, adding that the inspection of the materials by major stakeholders will commence on Wednesday before it will be moved to local councils on Thursday.