APC Promises to Conduct Fair, Transparent Governorship Primary Election in Ondo

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has promised to conduct a free, fair and transparent primary election to choose its candidate for the November 11 governorship election in Ondo State.

The party’s Deputy National Organising Secretary, Mr. Nze Duru, gave the assurance yesterday in Abuja as the party drew the curtain on the submission of Expression of Interest and Nomination forms by aspirants.

“We assure aspirants that the party is interested and desirous of conducting a free, fair transparent primary election in Ondo State,’’ he said.

The primary election is scheduled to be held on April 20 to select a standard bearer from among the 16 aspirants who have shown interest in the governorship race.

“Saturday, April 6 marks the formal closure of the first step of electing the person that will fly the party’s flag at the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State.

“The next exercise will be the screening of aspirants on April 11 and April 12 and after that, the primary election will be held,’’ he said.

Duru said also that aspirants would be formed into groups for the screening to ensure a smooth process.

He enjoined all aspirants to extend a hand of felicitation to whoever emerged as the party’s candidate as was done in Edo State.

He explained that Edo State had become a reference point in the party’s free process of choosing its candidates as even those not comfortable with the outcome came together to broker peace among party members.

“They came to the negotiation table; had a handshake and now we have a very formidable team; and we believe that APC will win in Edo.

“If we trust that APC will win in Edo, we have confidence that it will win in Ondo State,’’ Duru added.

Those in the governorship race are the incumbent governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiewa; Ms. Funmilayo Waheed-Adekojo; Mr. Olusoji Ehinlanwo; Mr. John Odimayo; Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim Folorunsho; Mr. Duerimini Kekemeke; and Mr. Samuel Akinfolarin, and Mr. Adewale Akinterinwa.

Others are Mr. Olugbenga Edema; Chief Olusola Oke; Mr. Felix Onwuyeye; Mr. Morayo Lebi; Mr. Diran Iyantan; Prof. Francis Faduyile; Ms. Judith Omogoroye; and Mr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele.

Oyedele was the last of the aspirants to submit his Expression of Interest and Nomination forms.

He said yesterday while submitting the forms that Ondo State needed a leader with vision and capacity to lead it to the next level, and stressed that he was the candidate to do that.

“I am not new to this process. In 2020, I was the front-runner against the late governor of Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu.

“Following persuasions from party leaders, I willingly and unconditionally stepped down for Akeredolu to ensure that the party was not disunited.

“And for the first time in the history of party politics, all the aspirants rallied behind Akeredolu at the election that took place on October 10, 2020, and the APC won,’’ Oyedele said.