Nine chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are lobbying to replace Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi, who is facing impeachment charges before the House of Assembly.
The gladiators, who are core members of “Team Aketi”, the political structure of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, are from the Ondo Senatorial District.
Those eyeing the number two position are: the chairman of the Universal Basic Education Board and former Education Commissioner Mrs. Oladunni Odu; Chairman of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) Gbenga Edema; former member of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) board and senatorial aspirant Lucky Ayedatiwa; Commissioner for Education and younger brother of former Governor Segun Agagu, Femi Agagu; Deputy Chief of Staff Jimi Kuforiji; Mrs. Olamide Falana and Commissioner for Water Resources Yetunde Adeyanju.
A source said Ayedatiwa, Agagu and Odu are the strong contenders, although some party chieftains are also rooting for Finance Commissioner Wale Akinterinwa.
According to the source, the jostling may have altered the permutations for the selection of running mate for Akeredolu, who is seeking a second term.
Initially, some party leaders have suggested Dr. Paul Akinterinwa, his 2012 running mate for the job.
Party insiders also confided that some governorship aspirants from the South are also eyeing the running mate slot, following the adoption of the indirect mode of primary, which the governor is most likely to win.
They are said to be mounting pressures on credible party leaders who have the ears of Akeredolu to consider them for the slot.
Also, a major crisis has engulfed the Assembly, following the suspension of three lawmakers who are sympathetic to the embattled deputy governor.
The Chief Judge may be mandated to constitute a seven-man panel to investigate the allegations against Ajayi, the source said.
Ajayi, who defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) three weeks ago, was served with an impeachment notice by 14 lawmakers three days ago over alleged financial recklessness, misconduct and incitement to violence.
Yesterday, the Clerk of the House of Assembly, Adeyelu Micheal Bode, confirmed that the deputy governor had been served with an impeachment notice.
The Clerk said the notice was served on July 7, the same day the lawmakers issued the impeachment notice, adding that Ajayi had received the notice.
The allegations levelled against him included gross misconduct, abuse of office with actions likely to bring down the state government, financial recklessness, abandonment of office, official duty and other assignments, and maligning credibility of the House with false allegations of cash inducement.
Others are his defection to the PDP despite being elected on the platform of the APC, incitement of the public against the government and engaging in acts likely to cause a breach of peace in the state.
According to the notice, “Pursuant to the provisions of Sections 188(2b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Honorable House resolved that your Excellency should be availed with a copy of the Notice for you to respond to the allegations contain therein.
“By this resolution, a copy of the notice of the allegations with supporting documents are hereby forwarded to your Excellency for your response.”
An aide to Ajayi, who pleaded anonymity, insisted that his boss has not been served with any notice.
The deputy governor had earlier told reporters that he would respond to the allegations after the service, stressing that the impeachment plot would fail.
Also yesterday, nine lawmakers, who are loyal to the deputy governor, dissociated themselves from the impeachment. Three of them have been suspended.
The suspended lawmakers are Deputy Speaker Iroju Ogundeji; Favour Tomemowo and Wale Williams. Another anti-impeachment lawmaker, Sulaiman Maito, resigned as Majority Leader, following feelers that the APC leadership was perfecting plans to kick him out.
Those jostling to replace the deputy governor are oiling their lobby machineries and intensifying consultations with critical stakeholders in the party.
A party chieftain from the North District, who craved for anonymity, said: “All the lobbyists are from the Southern district and they have enlisted the services of trusted allies of Governor Akeredolu.”
The source added: “This is politics; you don’t wait for the bullet to meet you, if you can identify it, and that is why we won’t rest until the deputy governor is impeached because we have credible evidence against him.
“There are more qualified personalities in the South who are ready to take up the battle once Agboola is impeached. We cannot be dragged back by one man who has finished the party in the South because he was having his own agenda.
“So, just like Abena (former Secretary to Government Ifedayo Abegunde) who was replaced within 24 hours, once the man goes, the next deputy will be sworn in almost immediately.
“The only unfortunate issue around the scenario is that, apart from lobbying, the gladiators are already locked in rivalry.”
The ruling party, which is silent on the race for Ajayi’s job, is maintaining a keen interest in the impeachment proceedings. (The Nation)
