The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has called on aggrieved aspirants of the party in the just concluded governorship primary election in Ondo state, to bury their grievances and work with winner of the exercise and incumbent governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Blueprint reports that Aiyedatiwa was declared winner of the election after polling 48,569 votes to beat his closest rival, Mayowa Akinfolarin, who polled 15,343 votes, while Olusola Oke came third with 14,865 votes.
Speaking at a reconciliatory meeting he convened Thursday at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja, Ganduje said it would be in their best interest for the APC to retain control of Ondo state.
In attendance at the parley later held behind closed doors were Governor Aiyedatiwa, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Olusola Oke, Professor Francis Faduyile, Dr Funmi Waheed-Adekojo, Dr Soji Ehinlanwo, Akinfolarin Samuel, Okunjimi Odimayo, Olugbenga Edema, General Ohunyeye Olamide, Morayo Lebi, Garvey Iyanjan, Ifeoluwa Oyedele and Judith Omogoroye.
However, two of the aspirants; Adewale Akinterinwa and Isaac Kekemeke were absent.
…Ganduje’s plea
Ganduje, who described all the aspirants as important, tested and knowledgeable personalities noted that there would be no need dwelling on the issues surrounding the conduct of the governorship primary held last Saturday in the state.
Reminiscing how he eventually became Kano state governor 16 years after an unsuccessful bid for the office, the APC national chairman called on the aspirants to remain hopeful of actualising their aspiration in the years ahead.
He said: “Since we are all democrats, we should be used to ups and down of politics. The purpose of this dialogue is to appeal to you. This dialogue is not to dwell on what has happened, or what did not happen, what is correct and what is not correct during the primary.
“If we dwell on that, it would lead to what we can call too much analysis which will lead to paralysis. Our own is to appeal to you. The party belongs to you and only you. Our prayer is that our party should be the ruling party in Ondo state. It’s already ruling, our prayers is for it to continue to be a ruling party in Ondo state.
“We are all practitioners in this game. I recall that I contested for the governorship of my state in 1999, I lost. I couldn’t become governor until 16 years after. So, I cannot call you lost aspirants. You are aspirants that would be successful tomorrow.”
…Meseko on takeaways
Speaking with newsmen shortly after the two-hour closed-door meeting, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of APC, Hon. Duro Meseko, said the meeting successfully arrived at two conclusions.
He said: “It was agreed at the meeting because of the outcome of the primaries, because of complaints that trailed outcome on the primaries by some of the aspirants, there is the need for the party to continue dialogue with all the aspirants individually and collectively in order to be able to have a common ground for the forthcoming election in the state to be able to work together as a united family.
“It was also agreed that the State Governor Aiyedatiwa should immediately work towards instituting what is called an inclusive government in the state by involving all the other aspirants, of course most of the aspirants will not be able to participate in his government but they have people that will participate, should allow them to make inputs, he should work with them in order to be able to move the state forward.”
…Ajayi wins PDP ticket
In a related development, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary election committee in Ondo state has concluded its exercise with a former deputy governor in the state, Agboola Ajayi, winning the election with 264 votes.
The keenly and open contest held at Dome international events centre Akure, had seven (7) contestants in the exercise.
Bayelsa state Deputy Governor Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, who chaired the seven-man governorship election committee, declared the former deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi winner of the contest.
According to him, six hundred and twenty one voters were accredited; two votes were voided while Agboola Ajayi polled 264 votes and becoming the flag bearer of PDP in the November 2024 governorship election in the state.
According to the results, Hon. Kolade Akinjo polled 157 votes, Sola E Iseni polled 99 votes, Akinwunmi Harrison polled 64 votes, Akingboye Benson polled 24 votes, John Ola Mafo polled 09votes and Arebuwa Bosun polled 02 votes.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo charged the winner to be accommodating and bring all together to give the party the needed victory during the forthcoming election.