Barely a week to the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship primary election in Ondo State, 15 aspirants have rolled up their sleeves to unseat incumbent Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who is also an aspirant in the contest....CONTINUE.THE.FULL.READING OF THE ARTICLE>>>
With the party’s National Secretariat scheduling the primary for Saturday, the aspirants have warned Aiyedatiwa that even with the power of incumbency, he could fall flat in the contest.
Considering that the state’s political heavyweights have vowed not to step down for one another, observers are primed to witness a fierce election. And to make it more exciting, 15 of those jostling to be the APC’s flag bearer in the forthcoming governorship poll are from Ondo’s Southern senatorial district, although one of the two female contenders hails from the Northern senatorial district area.
Those who purchased the N50 million governorship tickets and are battle ready for the April 20 contest after undergoing APC compulsory screening include Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Chief Olusola Oke, Mayowa Akinfolarin, Isaac Kekemeke, Wale Akinterinwa, Olugbenga Edema, Jimoh lbrahim, Jimi Odimayo, Diran Iyantan, Soji Ehinlanwo, Morayo Lebi, Dr Olamide Ohunyeye and Engr Ifeoluwa Oyedele. Rather than pay for the nomination form, the two female aspirants — Mrs Funmi Waheed-Adekojo and Engr Funke Judith — were requested to pay N10 million each for expressing their interests, hence the APC raked in over N800 million from the sales of nomination forms.
Sunday Vanguard gathered that all the aspirants have relocated to Abuja to lobby close associates, family members of President Bola Tinubu for endorsement. The aspirants, worried by the silence of Tinubu on his choice aspirant, are keen to see him anoint one person to fly the party’s flag in the November governorship election.
Following the sudden death of former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, there is a general belief in the state that Tinubu has vested interest in who becomes the party’s candidate. While some of the aspirants now shuttle between Akure and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, others, in an attempt to woo party members ahead of the indirect mode of primary adopted by the party’s National Secretariat, prefer to tour the state. Those who have traversed the 18 council areas of the state seeking votes include Mayowa Akinfolarin, Olusola Oke, Jimoh lbrahim and Wale Akinterinwa. In the same spirit, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, last Friday, started his campaign in lfedore council area after his screening in Abuja.
It is believed by observers that Aiyedatiwa waited this long to get the Villa’s approval on his candidacy before commencing his campaign. What remains unclear is if the governor was able to see the president to discuss his ambition after his private visit to Pa Reuben Fasoranti, the national leader of the Pan Yoruba Socio-Political Group, Afenifere, in Akure last month. Meanwhile, Vanguard gathered that the president, who didn’t want to be viewed as taking sides, declined to see any of the aspirants.
