Mrs. Taye Omolafe, widow of Hon. Adedayo Omolafe, the late former member, House of Representatives representing Akure South/North in Ondo State, is set to join the ruling All Progressives Congress and contest the seat vacated by her husband, First News’ investigations have revealed.
Top sources in the APC revealed to our correspondent that her choice had received the blessing of the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, who is determined to make APC take the seat.
The late Omolafe, widely known as Expensive, won the Reps’ seat in 2019 on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He died suddenly on August 16, this year, in his Akure home under befuddling circumstances, thus throwing his array of supporters into quandary.
Akure South and North are strongholds of PDP in the state, being the native home of its governorship candidate in the 2016 and 2020 elections, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN).
Already, barely four days after ‘Expensive’ was interred, last week, the campaign posters of his widow have hit the streets, though bearing a tiny PDP logo.
The campaign poster, which those close to Taye, the widow, said did not emanate from her, urges the Akure people to remember “the good works and generosity of Expensive and allow his wife to complete his tenure in the House of Reps”.
But reacting, a top official in the Akeredolu administration confided in our correspondent that the use of a tiny PDP logo on the poster was only a decoy, that Expensive’s widow, Taye Omolafe was indeed coming to the APC.
The official, who craved anonymity owing to the sensitivity of the issue, chuckled, saying, “We only used the tiny PDP logo on the poster as a decoy; the woman has been approached and she is coming to APC since it is clear that she won’t get the PDP ticket.”
He said Mrs. Omolafe would soon be unveiled by the ruling party at an elaborate ceremony, any moment soon.
Meantime in the PDP, a former Commissioner for Sport in the administration of former Governor Segun Mimiko, Mr. Dayo Aude, has indicated interest in the vacant Reps’ position.
In an interview with First News, Aude, who was director of youth mobilisation for PDP in the last governorship electioneering, said, “I am out to foster the vision of our great party and also bring my personal qualities to bear in giving rewarding representation to Akure South and North people at the House of Reps”.
He eulogised the contributions of the late Expensive, describing his death as unfortunate but demurred, saying, “we cannot query God”.
Aude had contested a primary election for the Reps party ticket along with Expensive way back in 2019; but the latter won while Aude placed third.
However, a factor which seems to be working for Aude is that Akure North from where he hails, has never produced a Reps member, as all past occupiers of the seat came from the South.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is still to name a date for a by-election to fill the vacant Reps seat.