Ondo Assembly Election: SDP Candidate Decries Fowl Play

By Niyi Olutunde, Akure

The Social Democratic Party, SDP, House of Assembly candidate in Ondo state, Mr. Emmanuel Famose has decried the anti party activities of leaders of the party in the just concluded election.

Mr. Famose who contested the
Ifedore State Constituency Assembly election in Ondo state
recently accused chieftains of the political party and the winner of the House of Representatives in Ifedore/Idanre Federal Constituency, Tajudeen Adefisoye of manipulations against his candidature.

Famose in a statement made available to Journalists on Wednesday in Akure to react to rumours being peddled by the opposition parties in the local government also disclosed how the said people thwarted his efforts through “vote buying” to favour of PDP candidate.

In the said statement, he denied that the fact that he collected money to work for the APC candidate and Speaker, Ondo state House of Assembly, Bamidele Oleyelogun who won the election.

The Igbara-Oke born politician also explained that he did not hold any meeting with Oleyelogun prior to the election but was more focused on getting victory for SDP.

His words “Nobody sponsored me. Actually, Bamidele Oleyelogun and PDP candidate in Ifedore local government, Tope Komolafe invited me at different times , but I did not meet with either of them so as to avoid unnecessary pressure.

“I neither stepped down nor endorsed anyone from the opposition party in Ifedore state constituency at the expense of my integrity.

But rather he said, “I have been the one funding the SDP in Ifedore alongside Mr Famoritiye for the past four years”.

He however expressed as unfortunate that rather than commending his efforts, and be rewarded, SDP has turned its back against him.

“Before that time, Tajudeen Adefisoye also known as ‘Small Alhaji’ had promised to support my campaign but few days to the election, he acted in contrary to all he had promised.

“Adefisoye also sent his Personal Assistant to give me a sum of four hundred and fifty thousand naira (#450,000), as agent fees for the house of assembly election but I did not collect the money”.

Famose also disclosed that it was through his efforts, support and popularity that ‘Small Alhaji’ won in Ifedore even though he did not win in Idanre local government.

He however affirmed the fact that ‘Small Alhaji’ and SDP in Ifedore betrayed him with their anti party activities, adding that whoever engaged in blackmailing him would surely get his reward.