Controversies have continued to trail the suspension of the Ondo South senator, Jimoh Ibrahim, by the All Progressives Congress (APC) Executive Committee of Igbotako Ward 11 in Okitipupa Local Government Area, for allegedly engaging in anti-party activities in the state.
The controversy started after two documents were released, with one for his suspension and another indicating a vote of confidence for him as a member of the ruling party in the state.
The lawmaker’s ordeal started after he kicked against the emergence of the governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as winner of the party’s gubernatorial primary held ahead of the 2024 election in the state.
The notice released on Wednesday was signed by ward executive members including Bakere Usuf, Tore Obwoselu, Oloyinmi Idowu, Borewaye Louyomi, Oladipupo Bose, Alkimbobola Seyi, Lawal-Babatunde, Aritawe-Ademole, Akinkuoju Olarewaju and Fabioye Ajoke.
According to the notice: “We, the members of the APC Executive Committee of Igbotako Ward Il in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, convened meeting on Monday, May 13th, 2024. During our meeting, we deliberated extensively on various issues affecting the progress and development of our party, notably indiscipline and insubordination among some members.
“We have found Senator Jimoh Ibrahim’s actions and activities to be in violation of the party’s constitution, particularly his decision to sue the party as well as his anti-party activities. As such, we have resolved to take appropriate disciplinary action against him as outlined in the party’s constitution. Senator Jimoh Folorunso Ibrahim is hereby suspended from the All Progressives Congress (APC) with immediate effect for acts of insubordination and anti-party activities In accordance with Article 21. Section A of APC Constitution.
“It is worth recalling that the National Party Chairman of APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, met with all Ondo State governorship aspirants on April 25th, 2024, in Abuja. During the meeting, he urged them to cooperate with the party’s candidate and incumbent Governor of Ondo State, Honorable Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa. Despite this, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim Folorunso proceeded to sue the Governor and APC, blatantly disregarding party instructions. Additionally, he has engaged in anti-party activities by urging his supporters in Igbotako and Ondo State to join NNPP, claiming he will soon receive the gubernatorial ticket from them. Senator Jimoh has openly declared his intent to disrupt APC before leaving the party, as evidenced by his actions in the Federal High Court in Abuja and his derogatory remarks about APC in various media outlets”.
In a swift reaction, an aide to the lawmaker, Bola Olagbegi, has described the suspension as fake, saying the authentic executive members of the party in the ward have issued a vote of confidence on thr senator.
Olagbegi stressed that the party members were in support of the lawmaker’s suit against the APC leadership, kicking against the conduct of the gubernatorial primary held in the state.
According to him, they declared their support for the senator currently representing Ondo Southern Senatorial District who has dragged the party to court over the shoddy manner the governorship primary of the party was conducted on April 20 in the state.
“At the meeting, executives and members of the party reviewed the party’s governorship primary election which they described as fraudulent, saying no election took place in the ward and in Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state on April 20, 2024.
“They expressed shock at how the Governor Usman Ododo-led Committee came about the figures it allotted to contestants in the election.
“No fewer than 55 members of the party including the Local Government and Ward Executives signed that resolution of the party at the meeting, passing vote of confidence in Senator Jimoh Ibrahim.
“They declared their unflinching support for the senator in his pursuit of justice in court concerning the governorship primary of the party in which several wards and all aspirants were deprived of voting.
“The local government party executives who signed the resolutions are Otekaye Alana Sunday and Olowole Musa, Secretary and Assistant Public Relations Officer of the party respectively.
“The statement issued at the end of the meeting reads in parts: “At the general meeting of Igbotako Ward 2 held today, Thursday 9th May, 2024 at 4pm, we reviewed the fraudulent election of Saturday 20th April, 2024 and resolved as follows:
“That no election took place at Igbotako Ward 2 and indeed all the other wards in Okitipupa Local Government Area;
“That we are surprised to see votes allotted to contestants by the Ododo-led Committee;
“We hereby pass a vote of absolute ‘Confidence’ on our leader Senator Jimoh Ibrahim PhD, CFR.”
