…Describes Exclusion as a “Perversion of People’s Will”

By Dayo Johnson

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.”