Politics

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

Published

2 years ago

November 3, 2024

Editor

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

Defection: Peter Obi Simply Looking For ‘Food Is Ready’ Party – Wike

Published

3 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has taken a swipe on former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his recent defection.

Speaking during a media parley on Wednesday, Wike said Obi is looking for a ‘food is ready’ political party.

The minister said, “Obi was in APGA, he couldn’t build APGA. He went to Labour, he ran away again from Labour. All he’s looking for is food is ready political party.”

Recall that Obi and Rabi’u Kwankwaso, former presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, on Sunday officially joined the NDC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Politics

2027: Nobody Wants Fubara – Wike

Published

4 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that there is widespread support for Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara to return in 2027.

Speaking during his monthly media parley on Wednesday in Abuja, Wike suggested that Fubara can’t claim to enjoy unanimous backing from the public.

He explained that the political crisis in Rivers State had earlier been addressed through the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, particularly during impeachment proceedings initiated against Fubara.

According to Wike, the President advised all parties to embrace peace, leading to the withdrawal of the impeachment move by the State House of Assembly after agreements were reached.

Wike, however, alleged that the governor failed to fully adhere to the terms agreed during the arbitration process.

Reacting to claims that the people were urging Fubara to seek re-election in 2027, Wike rejected the assertion, insisting that such narratives were misleading.

Wike maintained that appearing before the President for arbitration required respect for the outcome, noting that all parties were expected to uphold their commitments.

He said: “The President, intervened in the impeachment proceeding. I said withdraw, let their be peace. And the governor said, look, I’m ready for peace. Look, I’m no longer interested for this. I will not do this. The Assembly went and withdrew the impeachment.

“Having withdrawn the impeachment, he is now too smart on what you agreed before the President. It’s like when you go on arbitration.”

Wike continued, “This one is what I don’t like. Nobody wants anybody. Please, don’t tell me that. Excuse me.

You can go and tell that to the market people or children. Two years that people say he should come out. Who told you that?

“Which politician will say that I was sleeping they came and woke me? Even if people people come to wake you, can’t you say, no, I won’t do it. I’m not prepared for it.

“That you appeared before a President of the country on arbitration, the two parties on arbitration, and these people respected Mr. President, and have done their own part.”

Politics

2027: Wike Opens Up On Preferred Rivers Guber Candidate

Published

4 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday said he hasn’t endorsed any candidate for the Rivers state gubernatorial election in 2027.

Wike stated this on Wednesday during his monthly media parley in Abuja.

Wike said that the endorsement will come only after a meeting by the joint coalition in the state.

He said: “I haven’t endorsed anybody. And I can’t endorse anybody until the joint coalition meets.”

DAILY POST reports that questions have been raised concerning the fate of current governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, in 2027.

The FCT Minister was reported to have endorsed former State Commissioner for Works, Alabo Dakorinama George Kelly, as his preferred candidate for the Rivers State governorship election.

Sources told DAILY POST that Wike settled for George after a closed-door meeting with key political stakeholders in Port Harcourt on Monday.