Politics

Ondo Election: LP Candidate, Ebiseni, Protests Exclusion From Channels TV Debate

Published

1 year ago

November 3, 2024

Ahead of the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State, the Labour Party (LP) and its candidate, Chief Olusola Ebiseni, have expressed strong disapproval over their exclusion from a debate for gubernatorial candidates organized by Channels Television.

Only two candidates, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Chief Agboola Ajayi of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), were invited to participate in the debate scheduled for Sunday, November 3.

Prince Olu Johnson Egbodofo, Director of Publicity for the LP campaign, issued a statement in Akure, condemning the exclusion as an “orchestrated perversion of the will of the people of Ondo State.”

“We want to make it known that our party and candidates are prepared for this debate,” Egbodofo said.

The statement reads: “The attention of the Labour Party and its candidates in the Ondo State Governorship Election, scheduled for November 16, 2024, has been drawn to an advertisement by Channels Television promoting a live debate on Sunday, November 3, 2024, exclusively for candidates of the ruling APC and PDP, which Channels mistakenly labeled as ‘the two leading candidates.’”

As a media-friendly organization, LP officials, including Chief Ebiseni, promptly reached out to Channels Television and debate anchor Seun Okinbaloye, urging the station to provide fair coverage for all major candidates. Ebiseni reportedly received assurances from Okinbaloye that LP’s exclusion would be addressed; however, no adjustments were made as the debate date approached, leading the LP to consider legal and public actions.

Egbodofo emphasized that in past Ondo gubernatorial debates—held by Channels in 2012, 2016, and 2020—no candidate had ever been excluded based on subjective criteria like “leading candidates,” a term he criticized as manipulative and unrepresentative of the political landscape.

“For clarity, the Labour Party is the first political party since 1999 to have governed Ondo State for two terms, from 2009 to 2017, during which our governorship candidate, Chief Olusola Ebiseni, and his running mate, Adedayo Awude, served as commissioners,” he noted.

The statement further asserted LP’s status as a significant political force in Ondo State, being the immediate predecessor to the current APC administration, and one of Nigeria’s largest parties. Egbodofo pointed to Ondo’s tradition of electing leaders based on intellectual capability and political experience, listing notable past governors like Adekunle Ajasin, Bamidele Olumumilua, and Olusegun Mimiko.

“We are ready for the debate, even at this late stage,” Egbodofo stated, adding that Channels should reconsider its stance to avoid undermining the democratic process. “If Channels cannot ensure fair representation, it should put this debate on hold to maintain its reputation.”

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Politics

Rivers: Fubara Cancelled 10,000 Jobs I Initiated For Youths – Wike Alleges

Published

4 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Editor

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State cancelling an employment process undertaken by his (Wike’s) administration which engaged 10,000 youths of the state.

Wike made this allegation on Wednesday at Ahoada main Town, during the ‘Renewed Hope Family thank you visit’ to Ahoada East Local Government Area.

He said his administration had employed 10,000 youths into different sectors of the state’s economy, but regretted that Fubara, his successor, sacked the beneficiaries.

He slammed Fubara for claiming the construction of Ahoada-Omoku and Emohua-Kalabari Road, which he said he had made 70 percent payment before handing over, describing the governor as “a bad child”.

“When I decided to dualise this Ahoada road, people thought it was impossible. But by the grace of God, today, Ahoada East, Ahoada Town, is coming back to be the city it is supposed to be. When I was a narcissist, I finished phase one of this dualisation.

“Then I flagged off phase two, which would end up in Omoku. The job was given the same day as the one of Emohua to the Kalabari area.

“I gave it to Julius Berger and we signed an agreement for Julius Berger to collect N4 billion every month from our IGR. The total amount of that road, and the one from Emohua to the Kalabari area, was about N80 something billion. So I said, if they collect four billion every month, that would give them 48 billion. That in two years time, they would have completed,” Wike said.

Politics

Amaechi: Buhari’s Administration Was Hell For Me – Wike

Published

5 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Editor

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike has said the administration of late President Mohammadu Buhari was like hell for him.

Wike, who addressed members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ahoada East Local Government Area, LGA of Rivers State on Wednesday, said a minister from the state tried to frustrate his government.

Wike was apparently referring to Rotimi Amaechi, who served as the Minister of Transportation during the immediate past administration.

The FCT minister said despite the moves, his administration remained focused and committed to the people of Rivers State.

He said, “When I was governor, the administration of our late President Mohammadu Buhari was hell for me.

“A minister who is from here, tried to make sure we didn’t move forward but by the grace of God, we were focused and made more impacts.

“Governance is not just about awarding contracts, it is about relating with people. Anybody can award a contract but the capacity for you to settle issues and meander when there is a problem.”

Politics

2027: Watch Out For My Anointed Candidate – Wike Tells Supporters

Published

5 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Editor

Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has urged his supporters in Rivers State to watch out for his anointed candidate for the state’s governorship election in 2027.

Wike spoke on Wednesday in Ahoada East Local Government Area, LGA of Rivers State, while addressing supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

He urged the supporters to observe the movement of APC and PDP chairmen, as well as other leaders loyal to him to know his anointed candidate.

The minister appealed to the supporters to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.

He said, “The other one as it relates to the State, we will come back. Watch where your council chairman is going.

“Watch where the PDP and APC chairman are going, anywhere you see them, that is where we are”.

Wike had vowed to ensure that his estranged political godson, Siminalayi Fubara, was not re-elected in 2027.