Labour Party’s Ayodele Olorunfemi blames Peter Obi and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for his poor performance in the Ondo governorship election. Alleging sabotage, he cited internal party conflicts and last-minute legal battles that disrupted his campaign, as APC's Lucky Aiyedatiwa emerged victorious.
Labour Party (LP) candidate Ayodele Olorunfemi has accused Peter Obi and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) of undermining his chances in the Ondo governorship election. Olorunfemi secured only 1,162 votes, placing fifth among 17 contenders, while APC’s Lucky Aiyedatiwa won convincingly with 366,781 votes.
The election’s backdrop was marked by legal disputes. Initially replaced by Olusola Ebiseni following a federal court ruling, Olorunfemi was reinstated after an appellate court overturned the decision days before the election. The last-minute change and internal party conflicts left Olorunfemi's campaign in disarray.
Speaking to The Punch, Olorunfemi criticized Obi for endorsing Ebiseni during the campaign, describing the endorsement as a betrayal that alienated his efforts. He also alleged that the NLC contributed to the turmoil by siding with Ebiseni, accusing them of exploiting LP’s internal crisis for their agenda.
Olorunfemi revealed that Ebiseni allegedly filed a withdrawal letter in his name without his consent, further complicating his candidacy. “They ruined my aspirations by backing a candidate who wasn’t on the ballot,” he said.
Admitting his campaign lacked structure, Olorunfemi expressed frustration with the party’s handling of his candidacy. Despite the outcome, he vowed to seek justice against those he blamed for sabotaging his efforts.
The election highlights internal discord within the Labour Party, which analysts believe weakened its competitiveness in Ondo State.
