AGAGU, DAIRO SUFFER ANOTHER LEGAL DEFEAT AT AKURE COURT

Akure High Court yesterday rejected an application by the embattled leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State seeking to dismiss a suit filed against it by a faction, which suspended it last month.

The Omotayo Dairo-led executive had prayed the court to dismiss a suit filed against it by the Ambassador Olu Agbi-led Interim Executive, which was put in place by opposing party members on the ground that the faction has no locus standi to dissolve a properly constituted executive.

The presiding judge, Justice Olasehinde Kumuyi, who delivered the ruling declined and also threw out the application of the Dairo group seeking to stop the suit at the interlocutory stage. An ex parte order restraining Dairo’s State Working Committee (SWC) from functioning in that capacity, which also restrained it from administering the fund of the party pending the hearing of the motion on notice, had earlier been granted by the court.

Counsel to the Dairo group, Adekola Olawoye, had filed a preliminary objection against the order of the court restraining them from functioning in that capacity and prayed the court to strike out or dismiss the suit challenging their continued stay in office.

In his argument, Olawoye said that the plaintiffs have no locus standi to institute the suit and the court has no jurisdiction to entertain the suit and thereby recommended that the case be struck out.
Olawoye who further argued that the court did not have the jurisdiction to entertain the plaintiffs suit because they did not have locus standi to institute the case in the first place, said the suit was not properly constituted and therefore not competent.

The plaintiffs are neither members of the State Executive of the PDP nor authorised by the said party and its National Working Committee, (NWC) and National Executive Committee, (NEC) to institute this action for and on its behalf, he argued.

He said the suit as presently constituted disclosed no reasonable or cause of action against the defendants and the choice of the members of the PDP SEC, when and how they are elected, chosen or administered is the internal affair of the party, which is not subject to the jurisdiction of the court.

But counsels to the plaintiffs led by Mr. Stephen Olemija and Deacon Oluwafemi Balogun posited that the partys constitution applied by the counsel to the defendant is no more in existence as there is a new amended constitution of the party dated 2010 as against that of the year 2006 used by Olawoye.

In his ruling, Justice Kumuyi, who adjourned the hearing of the substantive case to June 23, 2011, affirmed jurisdiction on the suit, rejected the arguments of the Dairo-led executive and aligned with the position of the Interim Management Committee of the party.

OLAIYA ONI,MIMIKO FALL APART OVER MINISTERIAL LIST

Political Tsunami Hits Ondo LP

Olaiya oni,LP Chairman  finally resigns

…Osemawe,Mimiko loyalist panics

Just as the crisis generated by the ministerial list within the Ondo State  Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] is dying down the list has also wrecked havoc in Labour Party[LP] which made the party Chairman, Dr Olaiya Oni to resign his position.

Impeccable source within the party told Sunshine Voice that the ministerial list crisis last week took it’s toll on LP as there was an unresolved disagreement between the party,Chairman,Dr Oni and governor of Ondo State,Dr Olusegun Mimiko.

The source who said he saw the copy of the resignation letter told Sunshine Voice that Dr Olaiya Oni  last week sent his resignation letter to the governor, Dr Olusegu Mimiko informing him of his decision to quit the party.

The source said,Dr Olaiya Oni in his  letter stated that he is quitting the party to save his name as he alleged that  Dr Mimiko has hijacked the running of the party from the state executives.

Dr Oni the source revealed became bitter when he learnt that Dr Mimiko  unilaterally sent  the name of one Mrs Remi Duyile,who is a Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Diaspora Matters.

The Ise Akoko born party Chairman was said to have got wind of the ministerial list from a very close confidant of the governor who said that Dr Pius Osunyinkanmi,the incumbent Commissioner for Education was grumbling why his name was substituted by  Mr.Governor with that of one Mrs Remi  Duyile as LP ministerial nominee without recourse to the state excos.

This infuriated Dr Oni who went wild making frantic calls to his Aso Rock contacts to confirm the authenticity  of ministerial list sent by Dr Mimiko.

But he was even more bitter and devastated when he was told that Mrs Duyile was Dr Mimiko’s ministerial nominee for LP Ondo State.

There and then Dr Olaiya Oni immediately drafted and sent his resignation letter to the governor copying the Osemawe of Ondo kingdom,Oba Kiladejo alerting the king of his decision to quit LP because of what he called Dr Mimiko’s overbearing nature on the party.

This sent a lot of jitters down the spines of the paramount ruler of Ondo Kingdom who called on some of Dr Mimiko’s confidants and inner caucus members including the First Lady to start putting  pressure on Dr Oni not to make his decision public until they will resolve the crisis amicably between the two of them. .

Finally,after three days the Osemawe was lucky to convince  the embattled Chairman,Dr Oni to reverse his decision not to quit the party but Dr Oni Sunshine Voice learnt said he would accept not to quit only on the condition that the governor must also accept his new terms of preference.

 A six paragraph truce condition was therefore drawn by Dr Oni through  Osemawe to the governor with a warning that any attempt to reject a single line among the conditions he will make public his decision to quit LP.

Further investigation within LP at the time of filing this report revealed that  Dr Oni promised to make his official announcement to the public through the media on Monday.

AMIU TAMBUWAL EMERGED AS NEW SPEAKER OF THE NASS

Aminu Tambuwal emerged as the new Speaker , Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (PDP) Sokoto State has emerged as the new Speaker of the 7th session of the House of Representatives of Nigeria.

He defeated Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola who is popularly tagged as the candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the presidency.

Tambuwal was a deputy chief whip in the 6th session of the House of Representatives. He ran against Hon. Mulikat Akande in defiance to the endorsement of the ruling PDP.

The new speaker emerged by polling 252 votes to defeat Mulikat Akande-Adeola, who polled 90. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha was elected as Deputy Speaker

MIMIKO SECOND TERM AGENDA TEARS CABINET APART

2^ND TERM AGENDA TEARS MIMIKOCABINET APART

… Commissioners, Super SA’s, Political  appointees  sidetrack

That some selected indigenes of Ondo State are already clamoring for Dr Olusegun Mimiko, the governor of Ondo state to take a shot at the governorship slot come 2013 is no more news.But the disaffection this is already creating among some so called Super Appointees, Commissioners and Labour Party [LP] Leaders who are already complaining about been side track by the new political arrangement.

Sunshine authoritatively gathered that many of the so called untouchable appointees and some members of the kitchen cabinet were already grumbling to have been sideline and left in the cold as they were already grumbling  for not been carried along in  the latest political show.

Some of the appointees who were often refers to in government quarters as ‘Super Appointees [S.As]  were heard murmuring in whispering voice that  because some of them complained that it is still too early for the Gov. Mimiko to be  toying  with the second term agenda.

They also complained that the governor have not even open up to them on why he wanted to go for second term as it wasn’t part of their decision when they were in trenches.

Some of the Super SA’s were reported to have berated the promoters of te 2^nd Term Agenda to have not consulted with them which made some of them to reject the invitation to join the plartform.

An eye witness account told Sunshie VOICE that oe of the commissioners from the Central torn the invitation letter sent to him by the Iroko Platform saying the people can not invite him because he senior them in politics.

“Where are these people when we started the struggle for the emergence of Iroko and they now think the are smart to be talking about second term what have we done to make them believe the people will allow break the second term jinx as this may eventually be our albatross I the administration”

 The party leaders on their own party were jittery about the new arrangement, as the Iroko for second term is structure  in a way that  natural sidelined their existent.

All the political structures created to promote the second term of Iroko are already fill with all levels of executives, while the LP executives from state to ward level are left uninvolved in the cause.

This new political development in Ondo State could be likened  the era of Abacha whenthe Daniel Kanu led YEAA were canvassing for Abacha must  stay, as the governor, Dr.Mimiko is yet to make any categorical statement on the issue but political watchers are saying the man was only waiting for the right time to drop the bombshell.

The governor had on several occasion publicly denounced the issue of second term that he is waiting for God direction on second term but the spokesperson of the Iroko Platform has declared that they have gone ahead of Dr Mimiko to seek God intervention on the cause.

Though, the Iroko 2^nd coming is gradually getting attention while the grumbling continued in  every quarter but promoters have continued their business without bordering about the ranting and grumblings of the governor political associates.

One of the most vocal personality at the vanguard for the advocacy of Dr Mimiko second term is Chief Sanya Oyinsan  a  highly respected political appointee in Mimiko’s government  and notable media guru in Ondo State  is the Coordinators of the Iroko Plartform [IR]

The inclination of  Pa Oyinsan as he’s been refers to in media circles as one of those promoting the second term has given strong credibility to the  agitation for Dr. Mimiko to run in 2013.

Pa Oyinsan who is currently the Chairman of the OSRC board  said in one of his recent interview that since the governor has always been procrastinating saying he will take it to God in prayer.

“We have decide to have gone ahead of him to take it to God and God has answered us and we have been divinely ordered to tell the governor that his prayers has been answered now the whole world are waiting to see how the Ise-Takutakun governor will break the jinx of doing second term in Ondo State politics because no governor ever make second term” Pa Oyinsan

concluded.

It would be recalled that in one of Dr Tunji Abayomi’s interview he recalled the antecedent of Dr.Mimiko as an unrepentant advocate of one governor one term that gave him the sympathy why the people of Ondo State voted massively for him in 2007.

Abayomi said the political event that led to his emergence were as a result of his past and consistent struggle to affirm political zoning, so it is very unfair, totally unacceptable, wicked and immoral for anybody to now start canvassing for Mimiko’s second term”

He point out to the fact that “these same Dr Mimiko fought relentlessly to stop Chief Adefarati second term  and did the same for Agagu 2007 for that same man to now tell the people that he want second term will be very difficult”

The whole world is watching as second term agenda continues to polarize the Mimiko’s administration in Ondo State. 

MINISTERIAL LIST TEARS ONDO PDP APART,MANY SINS OF TOKUNBO KAYODE,DEFENCE MINISTER

Ministerial List Tears Ondo PDP Apart

… As Kayode Defence Minister was dropped for Elegbeleye

…his many sins, + why PDP can not forgive him

More facts are emerging why the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has failed to forgive the suspended minister for Defence, Prince Tokunbo Kayode.

The state chapter of the PDP, through its Chairman and Secretary,Dr.Tayo Dairo and Sola Oludipe, had announced the indefinite suspension of the minister on allegation of anti-party last week.

The executive are yet to reverse the suspension of the Ikaramu-Akoko born lawyer turned politician despite all entireties by the national and zonal body of PDP.

The party leaders alleged the unholy alliance and romance between the minister, Kayode and  ruling Labour Party in the state, to the detriment of his political party.

Sources close to the party told the Sunshine VOICE that the party executives were pressure to take the drastic decision by the members of the National Assembly who loss their return bid.

The NASS members were said to have converged at Abuja and took the decision that they should pay back the minister over their woeful outing at the last poll so that he too can feel what they are feeling.

The state excos acted on the petition of the NASSA members over what they described as Kayode's inability to muster enough support for them during the just concluded general election. 

This move is to blockade the perceived renewed effort by the minister to retain his portfolio having been credited by some party leaders at the zonal and national level for been instrumental to the success of the PDP Southwest rallies.

Kayode was appointed by the late President Musa Yar'Adua  had served in various  ministries as minister from the ministry of Culture and Tourism as well as Labour and Productivity, until he was latter saddle with the responsibility of over seeing the Ministry of Defence by President Goodluck Jonathan, who retained him in the cabinet after the death of his boss.

But the happiness of the party leaders begins to withered as they loss virtually all the bye-elections and polls conducted during his tenure a serving minister.

Some PDP leaders who spoke under anonymity berated Kayode for the monumental loss of the party in all the polls as they believed that if he had played his role sincerely and politically it would have greatly impacted on the fortune of the party.

It was learnt that the minister did not play any active role in the bye-elections conducted in the state and won by the ruling LP before the recent general election.

Specifically, the minister was said to be nowhere to be found during the by-election conducted in the Northern Senatorial District, which the PDP candidate, Jimi Adedapo lost woefully.

They traced the  loss of the PDP candidates at the subsequent election held at Ilaje the backyard of Dr Agagu and the stronghold of the party equally shows the lack of commitment and disloyality of Kayode to the party.

Some Youths group also blamed the minister for the poor showing of the party in the National Assembly and House of Assembly elections.

The group known as the Ondo State Youth Leaders Forum said the ''non challant attitude'' of the minister to the development of the party was responsible for the crack within PDP.

The group, in an open letter to President Goodluck Jonathan signed by its President, Elegbeleye Rasheed PDP aspirant who loss his State House of Assembly bid and Secretary, Kolawole Femi, said that the minister deliberately sold out the party to the opposition, using all the machinery at his disposal in preparation for his second term ministerial slot.

They alleged that the minister was negotiating with the Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, to defect to the PDP before May 29, so that the governor could re-nominate him for the state ministerial slot.

'Tokunbo Kayode has not been a blessing to the Ondo State PDP. He has contributed nothing to the development of the PDP in Ondo State. He only gives money and contracts to his loyalists.

"He is responsible for the poor outing of the PDP in the recently conducted elections in Ondo state. Somebody who cannot deliver his territory to the party, he was only after how to retain his post," the group stated.

But the immediate past Secretary to the State Government [SSG] and a very notable political leader from the southern senatorial district, Barrister Isaac Kekemeke differs on the issue of Kayode's suspension as he accused the party leaders of losing focus.

Hon. Kekemeke who was onetime leader of opposition in the state assembly during the truncated third republic was quoted by some media report that he exonerates Kayode over the abysmal failure of the party in the last election.

He condemned the party executives of conniving and cabal against Kayode, why should he be blame for refusing the party to use armed soldier to rig the last election.

Though the state secretariat of the PDP in Akure is yet to revert the suspension order placed on the minister, but sources closed to the minister said he had been making frantic effort to get his renomination through back door.

MIMIKO SPENT N70m TO HOST JONATHAN IN 30mins-Abayomi

MIMIKO SPENT N70m TO HOST JONATHAN IN 30mins - Abayomi

…the N30Bn loan is uncalled for.

Months after the Presidential campaign visit to Ekiti and Ondo States more outstanding revelations are beginning to unfold about the financial implications of the visit as well as what transpired during the visit.

The renown  human rights activist and chieftain of the Action  Congress of Nigeria [ACN] Dr Tunji Abayomi has challenged the Dr Olusegun Mimiko led administration to explained why a whooping N70million was spent for hosting the President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan  for just thirty minutes at the airport.

The fiery activist, Dr Abayomi made these allegation among others while speaking wih Sunshine VOICE on the state of the nation during the penultimate weekend that the governor should explained while such a whopping amount was expended on mere half an hour protocol and why should millions of naira be spent on voter's registration.

 'The thirty minutes presidential visit cost Ondo State N70milion and  the voters registration which was also the federal government prerogatives also cot the stste hundreds of millions of the monies that as supposed to be used judiciously for common  development'. Abayomi queried.

He condemned in its entirety the spending habit of the present administration in Ondo State by saying that why development is still far from the state is because the administration lacks control of public fund and resources,'The governor is more or less a financial dictator who wears the garb of a democrat'

The Okeagbe Akoko born activist turned politician also points accusing finger to the state lawmakers for allowing themselves to be bought over by the governor.

He blamed the lawmakers by saying “the state house of assembly is a stooge in the hand of the governor, they are like commodity the governor has bought them with public money, since each of them pocketed about N10 million they have since given their approval to the governor without caution, to go and take a loan of N30billion,and they have  became very useless in terms of their responsibilities to the masses”.

"Up till today the governor has not given account to the people how he has been spending the public fund and how much he had so far pocketed from the federal allocation

SUNSHINE DEBUT ON TUESDAY, HIT NEWSTAND WITH A BANG !

It was a promise well kept as SUNSHINE VOICE debut with a very big BAG on the street of Ondo State.
TOP STORIES YOU CAN NOT AFFORD TO MISS:
[a] Unbelievable! MIMIKO SPENT N70M TO HOST PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN FOR 30mins-Abayomi

[b] AHEAD OF CABINET RESHUFFLE:
ONDO COMMISSIONERS,APPOLINTEES,UNDER SECURITY SURVEILLANCE

[c] MINISTERIAL LIST TEARS ONDO PDP APART:
...AS TOKUNBO KAYODE,DEFENCE MINISTER'S NAME  WAS DROPPED FOR ELEGBELEYE
...HIS MANY SINS,+ WHY PDP CAN NOT FORGIVE HIM.

[d] LP ARE MERE TENANTS IN ONDO STATE GOVERNMENT HOUSE-Akintade

[e] EXPLOSION HITS PDP ...party in disarray over ALASOADURA defectioplan to ACN

[f] GOKE OLUWOLE'S COLUMN; AKOKOLAND : PEOPLE IN SEARCH OF A TRUE LEADER

AND MANY MORE

PDP SACKED AGAGU,DISSOLVED STATE EXCO

PDP Leaders sacked Agagu and Dairo, dissolves state exco

*Constitute a 9-man interim committee.

*Abdusalam,Ehinlanwo,EddyOlafeso,Arohunmolase,kekemeke,Alasoaduratakes over party  

The crisis rocking the Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) worsened yesterday as a faction of the party, under the auspices of Leaders and Stakeholders, suspended the immediate past governor of the state, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, from the party.

Also, the members dissolved the Dr. Omotayo Dairo-led State Executive Council and resolved to constitute a nine-man interim management committee to harmonise all factions and tendencies in the party.

Besides, the members rejected the suspension of members of the party and the list of 10 names compiled for federal appointments allegedly by Agagu and Dairo.

This development came as the Chairman of the party in Akoko Northwest; Prince Alaba Arohunmolashe, said the compilation of the 10 names as nominees to President Goodluck Jonathan would not stay because the Minister of Defence, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN), who is the highest political office holder of the party in the state, was not carried along.

Arohunmolase said the action of the dissolved Dairo-led executive would not stand because it did not enjoy the support of the majority of the party supporters in the state.

Among the leaders and stakeholders that witnessed the press conference addressed at the Press Centre of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), were the immediate past Speaker of the House of Assembly, Taofiq Olawale Abdusalam, incumbent Senator representing Ondo South, Senator Hosea Ehinlanwo, former commissioners under Agagu’s government including Dr Eddy Olafeso, Isaacs Kekemeke, and Chief Tayo Alasoadura.

Others included former Chairmen of local governments; Chief Adebanbo Odoro, Charles Adeduro, Mrs Yejide Ogundipe and Stephen Olemija.

Serving legislators of the party including Fatai Adams and Princess Caroline Olubimtan were at the briefing. Former office and incumbent office holders including Chief Bamidele Adeladun, Prince Ademola Adegoroye, Demola Babalola, Akin Aruwajoye, Dr Bode Iwaloye, Dr Patrick Gbakinro and Col Tunde Awodeyi (rtd) were also present.

Briefing reporters of behalf of others, a former Special Adviser on Political Matters to Agagu, Chief Segun Adegoke, said although the decision was painful, it had to be taken in the interest of the party.

He said Agagu, as the leader, was suspended because he led the party to inexplicable and inexcusable electoral failure and for accentuating the unending crisis in the party, saying the decision had brought the party to its comatose state.

Adegoke said the stakeholders adopted the doctrine of necessity because prominent members of the party had left for other political parties due to the alleged mismanagement on the party by Agagu and Dairo.

His words: The leaders and stakeholders resolved to dissolve the state executive committee of the party in Ondo State and will set up a panel to investigate the finances of the party since February, 2009 including the over N30 million contributed by party members for the building of the state secretariat, the N10 million donated by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and all monies for the various elections in the state.

The leaders and stakeholders reject the suspension of the party members from the party without hearing and/or due process and urge the interim management committee to review all such cases. A party that is losing needs people, not fewer people.

The party leaders said it would be wrong and politically suicidal to allow the Dairo-led executive that had led the party to five electoral failures to continue in office and compound the woes of the party.

In his reaction, Dairo said the people, who were spent forces in their local government areas lacked locus standi to proclaim the state executive dissolved or to suspend any member of the party.

According to him, the list being complained about was complied with due process by the State Working Committee (SWC) and 15 leaders of the party across the state.

His words: These leaders are spent forces in their constituencies. As far as we are concerned, they are not known to our party, they are not known to the constitution because they are ex-this, ex-that, we want them to know that this is not an obaship institution where once you assume the leader, you are there for life, their local government areas have produced vibrant young men that have displaced many of these people.

These people now have no direct means of livelihood and that is why you see them becoming political jobbers. Hon Isaacs Kekemeke was a party secretary here before settling for political appointment, Col Awodeyi was Chairman and many of them like that but they have lost touch with the reality on ground now which is for them to agree that the past should remain the past.

The party chairman accused the Minister of Defence, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, of masterminding the uproar in the party, saying: Unfortunately, the Minister found good use of these idle hands who have nowhere to go, no offices to run and no serious means of livelihood, he found ready tools in them and he doled some little to them and that is the result we are seeing now.

Since these people are not members of the ward executive, local government executives and state executive, they are not known to the national secretariat anymore and whatever they do remains null and void, so we are not bothered.

The PDP chairman laid the blame of the loss of the party at the elections conducted in the state since 2009 at the doorstep of many members of the group of stakeholders, noting that for example, Chief Tayo Alasoadura, a shining light within the team, was largely responsible for the political problems the party faced in Akure South Local Government due to his high handedness.

We understand they have served us before, but we appeal to them not to visit their frustrations on us because this frustration is out of poverty.

Similarly, the deputy governor under the Agagu administration and one of the nominees, Chief Omolade Oluwateru, said the leaders and stakeholders had no right to suspend anybody from the party, adding that the list being contested was compiled with input from the SWC and some leaders of the party.

His words: They said they are dissolving the exco and who are they, what are their positions in the party? There are ways of doing this, the executive council was constituted by a congress and it is only the congress that can dissolve the executive. So, it is very wrong for a handful set of people to hire people and pronounce the exco dissolved.

Besides, Chief Supo Ijabadeniyi, a leader of the party said the decision would not stand because of the illegality of their action.

According to him, those who took the decision were on their way to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and they wanted to destroy the party before the left.

OBASANJO ORDERS TOKUNBO KAYODE TO BEG FOR FORGIVENESS

‘Go and beg for forgiveness’

OBJ  orders Tokunbo  Kayode

The protracted political crisis rampaging the Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) may have been laid to rest as former President Olusegun Obasanjo successfully brokered peace between the leadership of the Ondo PDP and the Defence Minister, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode.

Saturday Tribune gathered authoritatively that a meeting of the Ondo PDP stakeholders took place at the instance of President Obasanjo inside his Ota farm, Ogun State, on Thursday evening.

The meeting, which took place immediately after an earlier one held by chieftains of PDP in the South West geo-political zone, had in attendance former Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Agagu, chairman of PDP in the state, Dr Omotayo Dairo and Prince Kayode.

Others at the meeting, which was held behind closed doors and presided over by Obasanjo, were Chief Solomon Oladunni and Mr. Demola Ijabiyi.

During the no-holds- barred meeting, the Ondo PDP leaders were said to have accused the Defence Minister of being an ally of Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, whom they accused him of conniving with, to rob the PDP of victory in the last gubernatorial and parliamentary elections in the state.

Prince Kayode was also accused of deliberately starving the Ondo PDP of funds which, as the minister of defence, he could have made available to prosecute the past elections in Ondo State.

The defence minister was also accused of not being sensitive to the financial plight of PDP members in Ondo State in addition to not supporting PDP candidates who contested elections.

In addition, Prince Kayode was accused of not empowering any notable PDP member in any of the three senatorial districts in the state, but, instead, concentrated on making only himself comfortable.

The minister was also accused of constantly embarrassing the leadership of the PDP in the state by waging media war to demean their political status.

After defending himself on each of the allegations, which were said not to be satisfactory to the Ondo PDP chieftains, Chief Obasanjo was said to have come to his aid by pleading with the PDP leaders to forgive him and rescind the suspension placed on him.

The minister was also reportedly ordered by Obasanjo to formally ask for forgiveness from the Ondo PDP leaders and to also beg them verbally.

Meanwhile, The poor performance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South West was as a result of the poor performance of governors of the party, a chieftain of the party, Wole Adebayo, has said.

Adebayo, who was reacting to the suspension of the Minister of Defence, Adetokunbo Kayode ,from the party said the poor performance of PDP at the last general elections showed that governors of the party let the people down by their dismal performance.

The minister was suspended by the Ondo state chapter of the PDP after the party failed to deliver the state for which the party blamed Adetokunbo.

Adebayo however, while reacting in a chat said it was a mistake for the state chapter of the party to suspend the first Minister of Defence from the South West on grounds that he was responsible for the poor showing of the party in Ondo.

He said: the reason given is very absurd. In fact, PDP lost the election in Ondo state in 1999; it won in 2003 because AD was quite unpopular and the PDP rallied round and got the people.

We lost out again in 2007; so, the party must be willing to please the electorate and win from year to year. If you lose this time, youll win next time. The party that is so arrogant to think that it cannot lose election and that electorates have no right in making choice; that party is not ready for democracy.

MINISTERIAL LIST:PDP DROPS DEFENCE MINISTER,KAYODE FOR ELEGBELEYE

Ondo State Ministerial list:

PDP drops Defence Minister,Tokunbo Kayode for Elegbeleye

…as Agagu,Olajumoke,Jimoh Ibrahim,Oke,Kuku,Dairo others  made  list

The desperate attempt and counter move by the embattled Minister of Defence, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN), to retain his position in the next dispensation suffered a big blow as the Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) dropped his name among the list of 10 members of the party presented with a less popular member Hon Oto Gbenga Elegbeleye.

The ministers name was conspicuously missing  among the 10 names of the  ministerial nominees expected to work with President Goodluck Jonathan  forwarded on Friday by the state chapter of the PDP to the elders’ meeting held in Lagos.

Top on the list of the nominees according to a PDP source, are: former state governor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, Senator Bode Olajumoke the serving senator of Ondo Senatorial District, the publisher of the National Mirror and a business magnate, Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim, Engineer (Mrs.) Febi Adeyemi and former state deputy governor, Otunba Omolade Oluwateru.

Others are PDP national legal adviser, Chief Olusola Oke, the Special Adviser to the Presidency on Niger Delta Affairs, Honourable Kingsley Kuku, the party woman leader, Lady Folake Akinjoko, state party chairman, Dr. Omotayo Dairo, and Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye who currently represents Akoko North East/North West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and house committee vice Chairman on Sport."

 It would be recalled that the minister, Prince Kayode have for some weeks been swimming in the mucky political water over an alleged anti party activities that led to his suspension.

The state chapter of the PDP had earlier announced the suspension of the minister following what it described as his anti-party activities.

At the meeting, some leaders of the party from the state accused Prince Kayode of working against the success of the party in the last elections.

It would be recalled that the PDP acting chairman had directed all the state chapters of the party to submit 10 names of their members who will work with President Goodluck Jonathan in various capacities in the cabinet to be inaugurated soon.

As Prince Kayodes,the defence minister’s name was not on "the list of those who will be appointed to top political positions from Ondo State."

The state publicity secretary, Chief Adeyemi Adedipe, said the party leaders’ meeting was held in Lagos, but refused to make further comments.

While reacting on the suspension of the minister, Adedipe said the suspension was irreversible. His words: ‘The minister remains suspended. He has been suspended by the party state working committee (SWC) for alleged anti-party activities. His case has been forwarded to the national secretariat for further investigation." 　

Agagu drags Kunlere to Court over senatorial poll

Senatorial race:

Agagu drags Kunlere to Tribunal

...Akinyugha,Rawa,Agboola,challenge LP victory    

Former Governor of Ondo State,Dr. Olusegun Agagu,who is also the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] Senatorial flagbearer has dragged the Ondo South Senatorial  winner of the election on the platform of Labour Party[LP],Barrister Boluwaji Kunlere,before the State Election Petitions Tribunal sitting at Akure.

When Sunshine Voice correspondent visited the tribunal venue within the state High Court premises on Wednesday,discovered that Agagu, who contested on the platform of the PDP,filed his petition on April 29.

The ikale born politician,Agagu in his petition alleged gross irregularities in the conduct of the poll maintaining that there was a large scale violence and snatching of ballot boxes on the day of the National Assemby elections.

The tribunal has fixed October 27 this year as the possible date of delivering judgment on the case.

Also, the current PDP member, representing Ilaje/Ese Odo Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Chief Agboola Ajayi, has challenged the declaration of LPs candidate, Chief Raphael Nomiye, as the winner of the election in his constituency.

Ajayi, who also filed his petition on April 29, is also expected to receive the tribunals verdict on October 27.

In the same vein, the Action Congress of Nigeria[ACN]candidate,Mr Rawa Felix  has also challenged the victory of Nomiye as winner of the Ilaje/Ese Odo federal constituency election.

The candidate of ACN in the election, Mr. Rawa Felix, argued that the poll was allegedly manipulated by the Independent National Electoral Commission[INEC] in favour of the LP.


The PDPs candidate in the Idanre/Ifedore Federal constituency, Mr. Akinyugha Jones, has also filed a petition to contest the victory of Mr. Bakare Moshood Abiodun of the LP.

The tribunal is expected to deliver judgment on all the petitions on October 27, 2011.