The endorsement of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa by a group, the APC Aborigines, for the forthcoming Ondo State governorship election has been described as illegal and alien to the Constitution of the All Progressives Congress.
Members of the APC Aborigines, including Ajayi Borrofice, Olusola Iji and Bola Ilori, among others, claiming to be foundation members of the party, had endorsed the ambition of Governor Aiyedatiwa.
However, other APC governorship aspirants, including Chief Olusola Oke SAN, and some leaders of the party in the state described the endorsement as misleading and redundant.
Speaking in support of Oke on a national television programme, on Wednesday, Benson Enikuomehin, a legal practitioner, said the APC Aborigines were unknown to the constitution of the party.
He questioned the criteria reportedly used by the group to arrive at supporting Aiyedatiwa, saying they included his educational background, integrity, financial capacity to fund election, ability to win election and contribution to the party.
He said Aiyedatiwa was unknown before he became the deputy governor and eventually the governor of Ondo State after the death of the late Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
Enikuomehin said the elevation of Aiyedatiwa to the governorship position brought him out of obscurity, adding that his accessibility to public funds would only make him to overspend others in the contest.
“The APC is an amalgamation of five political parties. The Aborigines claimed to be members of the AD, which was not part of the formation of the APC.
“If Oke ran in the past on the platform of AD, then, he is an Aborigine. Members of the Aborigines lack the moral right to evaluate aspirants as they cannot be fair, equitable and just. They have always been part of the supporters of Aiyedatiwa.
“Ilori told Tinubu when he came to Ondo State on condolence visit to the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s family that he was supporting Aiyedatiwa.
“Oke informed Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa he was going to run. The law of first mention favours Oke,” he said.
Enikuomehin was unequivocal that the people of Ondo South Senatorial District would not lend their support to Aiyedatiwa’s aspiration.
The legal practitioner expressed the opinion that the southern part of the state would be at a disadvantage, if Governor Aiyedatiwa was re-elected.
He emphasised that Aiyedatiwa’s pursuit of re-election would shortchange the southern senatorial district, given that he only has one term left to serve.
He pointed out that since Aiyedatiwa has already succeeded his late predecessor, Akeredolu, and after being sworn in as governor, he can only hold the position for one additional term.
Enikuomehin said the desire of the people of Ondo South is to have a governor who would have the opportunity and mandate to govern for eight years.
He argued that Ondo Central Senatorial District enjoyed an eight-year tenure during the Mimiko regime, while Ondo North Senatorial District had nearly seven years under the late Akeredolu.
