Presidency, APC'S NWC, others may back Aiyedatiwa for gubernatorial ticket in Ondo

THERE are stronger indications that President Bola Tinubu, National leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress ( APC) and the APC Governors’ Forum, may support Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as their preferred candidate in the coming gubernatorial primary scheduled to hold in April.

This is despite the open letter to the Presidency last week by some APC lawmakers representing Ondo State in the House of Representatives, in which they indicted Aiyedatiwa of having committed some infractions.

Investigation showed that there was a deeper agenda behind the decision of the lawmakers’ action, one of which was to stop Aiyedatiwa. It was also gathered that the majority of the aspirants, including the lawmakers, were uncomfortable that should the incumbent governor emerge as the party's candidate and if he wins the race come November, their political future may be jeopardised in the state.

The Guardian gathered that it was in response to the rebuff treatment given to them by Aiyedatiwa that forced the lawmakers to report the incumbent governor to the President.

Further findings revealed that not being part of the crucial stakeholders’ meeting convened by Aiyedatiwa is posing serious threat to the lawmakers' future in Ondo politics, especially if the incumbent governor peradventure secures the party's ticket and also goes ahead to win the governorship election.

It was also gathered that all the governorship aspirants, including some of those in the House of Representatives, had hinged their chances of clinching the party's gubernatorial ticket on the belief that Akeredolu would have supported them, but his demise changed the political equation.

Another factor that may work against the lawmakers and other contenders is that many of them did not support the presidential ambition of Tinubu during the APC'S presidential primary in 2022. They supported former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who contested but lost to the President in the presidential primary.