Ondo 2020: Ondo APC disowns ex-commissioner

AFTER condemning the administrative style of the present governor in Ondo State, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Tuesday disowned the former Commissioner for Information in the state, Mr Banji Ayiloge, as a member of the party. 

Speaking during a press conference in Akure, Ondo State capital, the Secretary of the party in the local government, Mr Akinloye Bolarinde, said the need to disown Ayiloge became imperative in order to distance from the vituperation against the administration of Akeredolu by Ayiloge and also to put the record straight.

Bolarinde who confirmed that Ayiloge hailed from Ifedore local government area said the former Commissioner is not known to the party in the area and had never participated in the party’s activities.

He described the aspiration of Ayiloge to contest the next governorship election in the state as part of the beauty of democracy saying “nothing is wrong in his aspiration but he should register with the party to contest under APC platform.

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“The right of Ayiloge to aspire to the highest political position in the state is undoubtedly inalienable. That is the beauty of democracy.”

The leaders faulted the claim by Ayiloge that he was an APC member and preparing to contest the next governorship election on the party’s platform and said “Ayiloge is not a member of APC in the state, he was the former Chairman of CPC in the state but never joined APC in the state. 

“He was the Director-General of Aketi Campaign Organisation in 2012 during the days of ACN but was sacked before the election because of gross incompetence and disloyalty. 

“He has been a seasoned politician who only surfaces in the state during the election. He never joined APC. He 
ceased to be a member of the APC family when he was left the party in 2012.” 

The APC Secretary in Ifedore noted that the former Commissioner is being used by some political elements in the state to unsettle the political atmosphere ahead of next year governorship election, and advised Ayiloge to stop dragging the names of Akeredolu in the mud. 

He noted that Ayiloge from the interview has expressed little or no understanding about happenings in the state but advised him not to drag the governor’s family into his campaign of calumny.  

“He should come out to register with the party if he wishes to contest on the platform of APC, this is the beauty of democracy. It gives eligible people who are interested in running state affairs. 

He urged Ayiloge to join any party of his choice but should desist from using APC as leverage in negotiations when he is not a registered member of the party.

“He should desist from running down others and constructive criticism will be welcome from any politician to move the state forward.”