Ondo 2024: Aiyedatiwa Woos PDP For Guber Ticket As APC National Leadership Recommends His Resignation
There are indications that the embattled Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa has opened talk with the Leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to contest the 2024 governorship election on the Party’s platform.
This is as sources at the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) indicated that the party’s National Leadership has recommended Aiyedatiwa’s resignation following the discovery of substantial evidence against him.
Aiyedatiwa was said to have been irked by the APC National Leadership’s stance, which recommended his resignation as a solution to the political impasse in the state.
A source revealed:”The National Chairman has conducted an investigation into Aiyedatiwa’s conduct. Some Governors have also shared information about the deputy governor’s actions while the governor was away. The National Chairman is furious about what he has uncovered. Currently, the party’s leadership, many of whom are former Governors, appears to be sympathetic towards Governor Akeredolu.
“The deputy governor’s actions appeared to have been less than discreet. He has voice notes and recorded calls circulating widely. People were recording his words and sending them to Governor Akeredolu in Germany. Wishing death upon someone is one thing, but wishing your boss and benefactor death is an extreme stance.”
The source also mentioned that Aiyedatiwa has instructed his close associates to prepare for a potential move to the PDP, expressing dissatisfaction with the recommendation from the APC National Leadership.
“Just like his predecessor, the deputy governor is determined to fight to the end. He is planning to join the PDP while insisting on retaining his position as deputy governor. Despite numerous appeals for him to step down for the sake of peace in the state, he remains unyielding.”
The source further revealed that most of the commissioners who were previously aligned with Aiyedatiwa have declined to follow him into the PDP.
“Several commissioners and some Special Advisers who were previously aligned with our camp have chosen not to join Aiyedatiwa’s move to the PDP. We are still in discussions with them. At the moment, we do not have any House of Assembly members or executive council members willing to join us. However, we are optimistic that some executive council members from Ese-Odo, Ifedore, and a few other local government areas may agree to join soon.”
It was also learnt that Aiyedatiwa ordered the removal of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s official portrait from his office, but senior civil servants intervened to prevent this action.
Aiyedatiwa’s threats to confront the government, even in the presence of his staff and aides, indicate a growing political divide within the state.
