Some members of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State have declared their support for Benson Akingboye, the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party.
This decision is a significant blow to incumbent Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s re-election bid.
The APC group, comprising various factions, cited concerns over the primary process that produced Aiyedatiwa as the party’s candidate, according to Independent.
They also expressed worries about the spiritual implications of Aiyedatiwa’s leadership, predicting it would bring hardship to the state.
The group’s leader, Comrade Dele Oyewo, stated that Aiyedatiwa’s emergence as the APC candidate was faulty and would have negative consequences for Ondo State.
In contrast, they praised Akingboye as an industrialist and humanitarian who would revitalize the state’s economy.
Akingboye’s candidacy has gained momentum, with the group confident that he will bring positive change to Ondo State. They highlighted his potential to revamp moribund industries, such as Oluwa Glass and Olosunta Oil Palm, and create economic opportunities.
The SDP has welcomed the defection, reaffirming its commitment to Ondo’s future.
The November 16 governorship election is expected to be highly contested, with Aiyedatiwa facing challenges from both within and outside his party. The Independent National Electoral Commission has published the final list of candidates, including Aiyedatiwa and Akingboye.
This unexpected turn of events may significantly impact the election’s outcome, as Akingboye’s support base continues to grow.
The statement reads: “In the spiritual realm, what Governor Aiyedatiwa displayed in May to emerge as the candidate of the APC is not only inimical, but a fulfillment of total darkness, squalor, poverty, and livelihood imbalance of Ondo State in near future. All these unfounded acts against the normal principle of nature by the present governor would hitherto, bring untold hardship on the citizen on daily basis.
“It is natural, unless this is quickly corrected by the people of the state themselves through their ballot on November 16, the state will be beclouded with total darkness of hardship in the coupe of years.
“The man Benzon Akingboye, having gone through the inventory of his life, most especially in the business space with some spiritual investigations over him, the state would experience a shining light over darkness, starting from Feb, 2025.”
While declaring support for the SDP governorship candidate, the grpup, in the statement further said, “in line with the basic principles of law of Karma, we the members of various APC groups in Ondo state led by Comrade Dele Oyewo of Ondo Patriots in conjuction with various other groups like, Ondo APC Solidarity Group, Jagaban Calition and APC Youth League, we see the accidental endorsement of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as an aberration not only to the electoral law which stipulates free and fair primaries but also an insult and setback to the dignity of our nation, hence we reject his candidature in totality.
“We also use this medium to ask the general public to disregard propaganda and misinformation as regard purported defection of some SDP members to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This rumour is a blatant lie, a total joke manufactured by the PDP governors and wicked agenda.
“The man Benson Akingboye that we know is well rooted in SDP with his 24 years of building the party, even in APC many groups and individuals are ready to work for him elapse of his history of service delivery, his love for humanity and having understood the spiritual implications of voting Aiyedatiwa as a governor even for one more year.
“We boldly declare that SDP is the most popular party in Ondo state presently and as this forthcoming election is concern. The party and its candidate is a better choice and will surely dismantle castles of lies putting together by the APC and the PDP.”
The groups expressed confidence that as a governor, qualities of Benson Akingboye, “an industrialist, friend of humanity, with his personal achievements as a businessman have spiritual edge as all-time catalyst to make positive impact in the collapsed system of Ondo State as an industrial Hub.”
Speaking on his capacity as an industrialist, the statement said “with Benzon Akingboye at the helm of affairs in Ondo State, we believe that he will turn things around. The revitalization of Oluwa Glass in Okitipupa and the Olosunta Oil Palm/industry, among others that are already moribund will come alive against all odds of incompetence and corruption as we have today.”
