2023: Why Political Fortune May Likely Smile On Morayo Lebi With APC Ticket For Senatorial Seat In Ondo

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, strong indication have emerged that a political fortune may likely smile on Barrister Morayo Lebi, a strong stalwart of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state after an unsuccessful trial to clinch the ticket of the party for the Southern Senatorial district which is being eyed by many other aspirants.

This, it was gathered during the weekend, was being considered by the leadership of the APC in the state who had been following the track and good records of Lebi, during one of their caucus meetings.

Recall that Lebi, had in 2018 joined the race to the Senate house from the same southern senatorial district but all his hope was dashed despite obtaining the nomination form for the contest.

Several sources in the APC said that the state leadership of the party under its Chairman, Engr. Ade Adetimehin has been meeting ahead of the politics and permutation for the 2023 election and might consider Lebi for the top seat.

One of the sources who was at the meeting revealed that Lebi was being considered for the senate seat based on his major contribution to the party in the state despite losing out in the last contest.

The source said the leadership of the party gave a record of how Barrister Lebi, a devoted party builder with grassroots followers, whose intellect is matched with his character had been financing the party without relenting.

He explained that the Akotogbo born APC chieftain, who was the candidate of the party in 2015 having won the primary in 2014 before Oshiomole imposed Yele Omogunwa in 2019 had on many occasions assisted the party across the 18 local government areas of the state by initiating different empowerment programmes to grow and develop the youths and most especially party members.

According to him, Lebi’s huge financial contribution during the last governorship election also helped the APC particularly in the southern district of the state where the party won with a landslide margin.

He added, “So, it is a known fact that he (Morayo Lebi) has not just started supporting our party as a member, he has been carrying out various empowerment programmes, not only in his senatorial district, South but across the three senatorial districts in the state.

“Though the contest for the party’s ticket had been thrown open, but some of our leaders are deliberating on seizing this opportunity to reward Barrister Lebi for his huge contributions to the success of our party, particularly in the last gubernatorial election.

“Therefore, it is not out of place for the leadership of the party to consider compensating him with the party’s senatorial ticket for the 2023 general elections.

“Some of our leaders are putting heads together and considering presenting him to our amiable governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to consider the advice.

“The move became necessary because of his loyalty to our party and the governor. He has always been consistent even in the face of temptations from other political parties particularly the major opposition party trying to woo him to their side.

“I’m sure this is a payback time and we are looking at briefing his Excellency on his profile, contributions to the growth and development of our party”.

Alex Kalejaiye, the State Publicity Secretary of the party while reacting said the leadership of the party had been meeting but was still preoccupied with the National convention of the party that is coming up soon.

He explained that the party executive would have more time to meet and reason towards compensating loyal members of the party with a view of presenting viable candidates for the various seats ahead of the 2023 general election.

“We shall be taking the step one after the other. I’m sure after the successful completion of the National convention, all the state executives would be inaugurated and we would now take it up from there. But we feel, let us put our house in order first before we start plotting how to compensate whosoever and how to present a common front ahead of the 2023 general election”, Kalejaiye added.