The Labour Party has asked security agencies to arrest the factional secretary general of the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Sola Ebiseni, for parading himself as its candidate in the November 16, 2024 governorship poll in Ondo State. 

In a statement on Wednesday, the party accused Mr Ebiseni of impersonation and the politician recently declared for the governorship seat of Ondo floating the party’s logo.

It explained that Ayo Olorunfemi, who is the standard-bearer of the party, emerged after its primary election witnessed by the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission in June, at Akure, the state capital.

“Impersonation is a serious crime in Nigeria and we therefore urge the Nigeria police, the Department of the State Security and other security agencies to apprehend anyone impersonating or being used to fight a proxy battle by way of impersonation.

“Labour Party is poised to win the Ondo governorship election having fielded a very credible candidate who is a grass-roots politician, a prominent labour leader and a renowned educationist. We think that this unholy alliance between Ebiseni and APC-sponsored NLC is geared towards frustrating our expected victory at the polls but we will resist it through every legal means,” the National publicity secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, stated in the copy of the statement obtained by Peoples Gazette.  

On Tuesday, Mr Ebiseni, who had taken part in the governorship primaries of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party but lost to Agboola Ajayi, recently held a press conference, announcing his emergence as the new governorship candidate of the Labour Party for the coming election. 

He also unveiled the erstwhile commissioner for youths and sports development in the state, Dayo Awude, as his running-mate for the poll.

Both men were allies of former governor Olusegun Mimiko and held prominent offices in his government. 

The Labour Party insisted that Mr Olorunfemi remained its candidate, noting that his name was subsequently submitted to INEC and was published as the party’s duly nominated candidate for the Ondo governorship election.

It added, “Mr Ebiseni is not our candidate, though he aspired to be one,” stating that INEC has since concluded the nomination processes.

The LP also wondered how the factional chieftain of the Afenifere emerged without the involvement of the electoral body and the sponsorship of the Labour Party. 

It stated, “We also took note of some persons who are not members of the Labour Party but believed to be working for the Nigeria Labour Congress who must have been urging him on in their blind and illegitimate pursuit of the leadership of the party even when the Appeal Court has affirmed Barrister Julius Abure as the authentic chairman of the Labour Party.” 

The party, however, called on its members in Ondo, particularly the ‘Obidient family’ and the entire electorate to ignore the gang up against the party, urging them to come out en-masse to vote for Mr Olorunfemi of the LP and ensure their votes count. 

The Gazette reported that in a list of the governorship candidates released and published by INEC on June 14, Mr Olorunfemi was named the candidate of the LP and Adu Olubisi Bukola,as his running-mate. 

In the copy of the publication signed by INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, the electoral body also released the personal particulars of the candidates and their running-mate for the election. 

A total of 17 political parties fielded candidates for the governorship election.

The other candidates are Lucky Aiyedatiwa (APC), Ajayi Alfred Agboola (PDP), Ajibola Falaiye (AP), Omolere Akinuli (AA), Adekunle Ajayi (AAC), Olatunji Popoola (APGA), Ogunfeyemi Isaac (APM), Akinnodi Ayodele Emmanuel (ADP) and Fadoju Amos Fadoju (APP).

Others are Nejo Adeyemi (ADC),  Olugbenga Omogbemi Edema (NNPP), Ali Babatunde Francis (PRP), Akingboye Benson Bamidele (SDP), Akinmulere John Otitoloju (PRP), Adegoke Kehinde Paul (YP) and Mimiko Olugbamsile Abass (ZLP).