ACN, PDP no threat in Ondo –LP

Labour Party National Chairman, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu

About three months to the governorship election in Ondo State, the Labour Party has said it is not threatened by any other political party.

The National Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Nwanyawu, told SUNDAY PUNCH that despite the victory of the Action Congress of Nigeria over the People’s Democratic Party in the Edo State governorship election, his party’s candidate, Governor Olusegun Mimiko, would comfortably defeat candidates of both parties in the October 20 election.

Nwanyawu said Mimiko’s performance as governor put the party well ahead of other contenders in the election.

He said, “There is no challenge at all from any party. That Oshiomhole emerged victorious at the election on the platform of another party is no challenge at all. Edo State is not the same as Ondo State. The Labour Party is 95 per cent on ground in Ondo and nobody can doubt that.

“We are going into the election with some pluses. We have, as our candidate, a governor that has performed very well and has turned the state capital, which was a glorified rural local government area, to one of the best state capitals in the country.”

Despite the fact that the ACN holds sway in five other states in the South-West geopolitical zone, and has been planning to include Ondo in its regional integration, Nwanyawu said LP was still preferred in the state.

He explained, “There has been massive development of infrastructure. Roads have been built; modern markets have been built; world class health care facilities have been provided. On the whole, the LP-led administration in Ondo State has executed over 400 projects that have touched the lives of people of the state. As a result of that our party is more acceptable in the state than any other party.

“And Ondo people, being grateful people, would certainly return Mimiko as governor to complete the work he has started. So we are not seeing any threat from any party. Another important fact is that Mimiko has no godfather to give part of the state’s money to.”

Nwanyawu added that the victory of Oshiomhole at the Edo governorship election was purely a product of the governor’s performance in his first term and not ACN’s political might.

“We supported Oshiomhole in Edo. It was Oshiomhole that won the election, not ACN. We fought hard to end godfatherism and because he blocked godfathers, there was money to develop the state and the people were amazed. We have succeeded in doing the same thing in Ondo State; that is why you see development.”

The LP cheiftain expressed optimism that the Ondo governorship election would be free and fair.

“I believe in Jonathan’s declaration of one-man-one-vote, and I believe in Prof. Attahiru Jega’s ability to conduct a free and fair election in Ondo State. That is why I’m confident that the people of Ondo would return Mimiko as governor for a second term. There is no alternative,” he said.