Several developments have characterised the affairs of the Ondo State government as political parties in the State commence primaries for the governorship election scheduled for October 10. Shortly after the defection of the Deputy Governor of the State, Agboola Ajayi from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the major opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the resignation of the Secretary to the State Government, Ifedayo Abegunde, the Ondo State House of Assembly commenced proceedings to impeach the Deputy Governor. While 18 lawmakers were in support of the impeachment, 9 others dissociated themselves from the process. The situation rapidly deteriorated as the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Bamidele Oleyelogun suspended the Deputy Speaker and two other members of the House who were against the impeachment, for misconduct. The Majority Speaker of the House, Sulaiman Maito also resigned his position, expressing his displeasure at the move of the House to impeach the Deputy Governor. Furthermore, the Assembly wrote to the Chief Judge of the State, requesting that a panel be set up to look into the allegations levelled against the Deputy Governor. Following the Chief Judge’s refusal to grant the request, the Assembly has expressed its resolve to take note of the observations raised by the Chief Judge and address lapses in its impeachment process.
The screening committee of the APC held a two-day screening exercise of governorship aspirants, from which 11 aspirants were deemed fit to contest the party’s primaries scheduled for July 20, while one aspirant was disqualified. The infighting and defections in Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s government and the APC in Ondo State seem to be an implosion from a long standing feud among varying interests and factions since the beginning of the governor’s tenure. It would appear that the warring parties are beginning to take their stance ahead of the governorship election, in which governor Akeredolu is set to seek a second term. Meanwhile, the PDP is battling its internal squabbles emanating from allegations of alterations in the delegates’ list for its July 22 primary election, fueling the possibility of postponing the exercise. Observers worry that the political tussle in the State might raise security challenges in the election.