Kawonise remains our governorship candidate in Ogun, says Labour Party

Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta

Contrary to rumour making the round that former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Ogun state during Gbenga Daniel administration, Sina Kawonise has been dropped as the governorship candidate of Labour Party (LP), the party has cleared the air on the matter.

It would be recalled that in the list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in the state of all the governorship candidates of political parties in the state, the electoral body wrote another name against the Labour Party.

In the list released by INEC, name of the chairman of LP in the State, Comrade Olabode Simeon was announced as the governorship candidate of the party.

Speaking with PM News on the development, a chieftain of the party in the state explained that the chairman’s name was submitted just to fill in the gap, pending the resolution of some internal crisis within the party.

The chieftain, however disclosed that the matter has been finally resolved and Kawonise’s name has been sent to the INEC headquarters in Abuja, but is yet to be forwarded to state office.

According to source, “the issue has generated serious controversy and I have to set the record straight now. Truly, the name of Simeon Olabode, our chairman was announced as the governorship candidate of our great party, Labour Party, LP in Ogun State, but I want to confirm to you that our governorship candidate remains Sina Kawonise.

“We submitted Olabode’s name by proxy so as to resolve some internal crisis rocking our party then and as well to meet up with the INEC’s deadline in December. That was what we did and that was why you people have been hearing Olabode’s name as the governorship candidate.

“I want to confirm to you now that all what is happening within the party has finally been resolved and as we are speaking, the name of Sina Kawonise has been forwarded to the INEC’s headquarters in Abuja but has not been effected on the list with the state INEC here in Abeokuta, probably, due to the holiday.

“I quietly believe that before the week runs out, the correction will be effected and you people will hear the correct name, the man that will surely win the governorship election on 28 February 2014. Our candidate is going to win the election, there is no going back concerning our victory, we will all assemble at the MKO Abiola stadium for the inauguration of His Excellency, Sina Kawonise as the governor of Ogun state,” the source revealed.

When our correspondent contacted Sina Kawonise to comment on the development, he confirmed the matter and corroborated what the party chieftain told PM
News.

The Ago-Iwoye born politician assured his teeming supporters of victory during the poll, calling on them to cast their votes en masse for the Labour Party on the election dates.

“Everything has been resolved within the party and you too can check the newspaper, where the chairman himself, Simeon Olabode granted an interview where he stated that the party governorship candidate for the 2015 election remains Mr. Sina Kawonise and he is going to win the governorship election next month by God grace,” Kawonise stated.