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Tag: Aspirants

  • Ogun 2019: APC warns aspirants

    Ogun 2019: APC warns aspirants

    The Acting Chairman of the Ogun State All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji. Tajudeen Lemboye, has urged governorship aspirants to abide by party rules and constitution. He warned violators that they risked disqualification.

    Tajudeen said politics should be  for service and not an avenue to pursue self interest, adding that APC is a party of discipline, which would  not tolerate disrespect to its guidelines and rules by any aspirant.

    The Acting State Chairman gave handed the warning at the party secretariat when a federal lawmaker, Hon. Adekunle Akinlade, accompanied by hundreds of supporters, unfolded his intention to participate in the govrnorship race.

    Akinlade, who hails from Ogun West Senatorial District, where nobody has emerged yet as governor since the creation of the state over 40 years ago, represents Ipokia and Yewa South  Constituency in the House of Representatives.

    He pledged, to consolidate and sustain the rebuilding mission of Governor Ibikunle Amosun, if given the mandate to lead the state on the ticket of APC.

    Tajudeen, however, advised the  lawmaker not to restrict the pursuit of his governorship ambition to Ogun West alone, but to reach out to people in Ogun Central and Ogun East as their input is vital to the project.

     

  • Council poll: Aspirants urge members to stay calm

    Council poll: Aspirants urge members to stay calm

    Four of the six chairmanship aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State have urged members in the 57 local governments and local council development area to remain calm and support the party to ensure victory in the coming election.
    The aspirants, under the aegis of Concerned Ejigbo LCDA Chairmanship Aspirants, in a statement yesterday in Lagos urged the National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other stakeholders to jettison the issue of consensus candidate.
    They said in the interest of all, the party leadership should make a pronouncement on the next line of action.
    The aspirants said they will work with anyone who is picked among them as the candidate.

  • Anambra 2017: Godfathers, aspirants plot new schemes

    Anambra 2017: Godfathers, aspirants plot new schemes

    Following Independent National Electoral Commission’s recent announcement that Anambra State’s governorship election will hold on November 18, 2017, aspirants and super-rich politicians in the state have resurrected their political machineries for the grand contest. Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, in this report, uncovers the big aspirants, the current moves by billionaire godfathers and the new alignments in the state

    The governorship election in Anambra State is still eight months away but the Independent National Electoral Commission’s recent announcement of the November 19 date has further raised the state’s political tempo.

    Following the inability of INEC to conclude the National Assembly Elections in the state last year, the political atmosphere has remained very high since then.

    The atmosphere became more tense towards the end of last year when the state governor, Willie Obiano, first made public his interest to contest for re-election on the ticket of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

    Since then, the state has made headlines as his critics increased their condemnation of his actions and utterances.

    While the governor’s supporters and aides dismissed their critics as sponsored agents, assigned to belittle Obiano’s “good works” ahead the 2017 Governorship Election in the state, opposition political parties said the criticisms are testimonies of the government’s poor outing in his first tenure.

    His opponents alleged that he has not given good account of the period he has occupied the Awka Government House and so should not be re-elected.

    But the governor and his supporters vowed that the allegations were unfounded, saying he has delivered incredible dividends of democracy to Ndi Anambra and that on the strength of his performance, he should be given a second tenure. This has, in a way, set the tone for the expected political battle for Awka Government House in November.

    Elder Udodirim Chukwubuikem, a grassroots political leader in Awka, told The Nation in a telephone interview that this year’s battle will be anchored not only on the argument over performance of Obiano’s government. “Although performance matters greatly, what may serve as the primary determinant in the coming governorship election in this state is the strength of the contesting political parties. We all know that Anambra, which started out as a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state, has for long remained the seat of APGA but the question that needs to be resolved is whether APGA of today is still as strong and as united as it was before when it won elections in the state. With the death of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu and the exit of former Governor Peter Obi, added to Obi’s current membership of (PDP), have certainly removed so much steam from the party in the state.

    “Also, the emergence of All Progressive Congress (APC) as the ruling political party at the centre and the mass defection of Anambra top politicians and money bags to the party, confirm that APGA has more formidable opposition than it has ever had in the state. If you take all these into consideration, you will agree with me that Anambra State politics has changed tremendously. Today, almost all the political godfathers and moneybags, except Obi and a few others, are now in APC. This, to me, makes it difficult to say the ruling party, APGA, will easily win the governorship election. I think APC and PDP are really strong contenders.”

    Zoning factor

    Even before INEC’s announcement, zoning had emerged a major issue in the debate over the next occupant of Awka Government House.

    Unlike in many states where zoning has been widely accepted since 1999, Anambra State, according to insiders, had continuously pushed it to the background, a development that has allegedly made Anambra North unable to produce an elected governor since 1999. But our investigation shows that some powerful stakeholders are today agitating for its full implementation in the forthcoming elections.

    It would be recalled that in 2013, former Governor Peter Obi first made the move to give the North a chance when he tried to convince the leadership of his party then (APGA) to zone the governorship ticket to the North. He argued that it would be unfair for his successor to come either from his Anambra Central Senatorial Zone or Anambra South after he had governed for eight years, more so when two former governors before him, Chuwuemeka Ezeife and Chinwoke Mbadinuju, were from Anambra South.

    Insiders said that was how Willie Obiano emerged APGA candidate and Anambra State governor. Perhaps in line with that zoning formula, PDP had also given its ticket to Tony Nwoye from the North. But the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) had fielded Senator Chris Ngige from Anambra Central.

    As APC and PDP perfect their strategies to contest this November governorship election, we gathered that zoning will play a significant role in determining the party’s candidates. Already, Governor Obiano’s campaign managers are harping on the need to re-elect him so that his zone will complete its two-term tenure, a condition they described as equity and fair play.

    Aspirants file out:

    Considering the number and calibre of aspirants that have so far indicated interest in the governorship election, observers agree that it will be another Battle of the Titans. Perhaps because the incumbent governor, Willie Obiano, is poised to fly the ticket of his party, APGA, and because APC has emerged a very strong party even in the state, most of the major aspirants have chosen APC as their platform. By last month, over 15 aspirants have been confirmed as making concrete moves to contest for APC governorship ticket this year. The state party chairman, Mr. Emeka Ibe, told reporters that much. He mentioned political heavyweights like Senator Andy Uba, from Anambra South; the 2014 governorship candidate of the PDP, Dr. Tony Nwoye also from Anambra North; the 2010 PDP governorship candidate, Prof. Charles Soludo; former Senator Uche Ekwunife who served in the Senate on the ticket of the PDP and former PDP governorship aspirant, Dr. Obinna Uzor, as some of the aspirants that have shown interest to contest for the party’s ticket.

    Other important aspirants he confirmed their interests in his party include APC National Auditor,  Chief George Moghalu, Chief Ifeanyi Ubah, Chief Chike Obidigbo; Barth Nwibe; Engr. Obinna Onunkwo; Chief Ralph Okeke; Paul Chukwuma; Ifeanyi Ubah, and Prince Donatus Okonkwo.

    All Progressives Grand Alliance

    Governor Willie Obiano the National Leader of APGA has made it clear he is interested in contesting for re-election on the platform of the party. So, it would be safe to conclude that he would not have an opponent as the party’s primary is likely to be a concluded arrangement.

    Although his critics said he has not justified the trust implicit in his mandate, Obiano’s supporters said he has performed creditably well and is likely to be re-elected on that ground. Aside performance, the governor, who is from Anambra North, is favoured by the current debate for zoning.

    His major challenges however include his fallout with his political godfather, former Governor Peter Obi, who he allegedly pushed out of APGA and who is now the PDP kingpin in the state and the formidable squad now in APC, including money bags like Andy Uba, Ifeanyi Ubah and Charles Soludo.

    Observers said incumbency factor notwithstanding, Obiano will need to be very innovative to defeat such opposition.

    All Progressive Congress

    Although over 20 members that have indicated interest to contest for the ticket of APC, either formally or informally, our investigation shows that only about 10 of such aspirants linked with such aspiration have visible structures and supporters. They include Senator Andy Uba, Dr. Tony Nwoye, Prof. Charles Soludo; former Senator Uche Ekwunife, George Moghalu, Chief Ifeanyi Ubah, Barth Nwibe and the current Minister of Labour, Senator Chris Ngige, who has not openly indicated any interest but is believed by his ardent supporters to be a strong force if he chooses to contest.

    Ngige:

    Although Ngige’s tenure as Governor of Anambra State on the platform of PDP was cut short midway because of the controversies over his relationship with some powerful political godfathers who allegedly rigged the election to install him as governor, the Minister of Labour has remained very influential even though all his efforts since then to return as the executive governor of the state have failed to yield positive result.

    Sources close to him said Ngige wants to return to the Government House in Awka, except he is assured of retaining his present position at the federal cabinet.

    If he seeks APC ticket, one of the factors that may not favour his is the zoning factor.

    Ekwunife:

    This highly influential politician is believed to be interested in the governorship ticket of APC in Anambra State. A former Senator on the ticket of PDP, Uche Ekwunife is one of the most dogged female politicians in the country today. A former banker, insiders said her well-coordinated grassroots political machinery is set to commence campaigns soon.

    Ifeanyi Ubah:

    Ifeanyi Ubah is one of the most intriguing young politicians in the state. An oil merchant, when he first joined politics and showed interest to govern Anambra State on the ticket of relatively unpopular Labour Party in Anambra in 2013, not many took him seriously. But he made so much impact that he is now counted as a political lord in the state.

    Observers said if Ubah made impact in 2013 on the platform of LP, when he was a mere novice in the political theatre, he is likely to do better today if he succeeds to get APC ticket, given that APC has become even more popular and acceptable in the state.

    Another thing that may go for Ubah is his success story in the field of sports, especially the growing popularity of his FC Ifeanyi Ubah, among youths and football fans. It is believed this will help his campaign.

    George Moghalu:

    APC’s National Auditor, Chief George Moghalu, is another influential hopeful for the party’s governorship ticket. Like the others, he is also not a push over in the quest for the party’s governorship ticket in Anambra. Known to be very popular and influential in APC at the centre, Moghalu is also an experienced politician.

    Observers said it remains significant that he chose the first day of this election year to formally declare his interest to join the race.

    Nwibe

    Another serious aspirant for APC ticket is Bart Nwibe the pioneer Group Managing Director of Segofs Energy Group. Before Segofs, he was the lead Principal Directional Drilling Consultant to SPDC for Segofs Ltd.

    Described by his admirers as a rural developer, Nwibe is said to enjoy mass grassroots support.

    Uba and Nwoye

    Other powerful APC contenders include Tony Nwoye, who flew PDP flag in the last governorship election and Andy Uba, who has allegedly held the political scene of the state, especially that of his former party, the PDP, in his palms before his sudden defection to APC.

    These two aspirants have intimidating structure and support across the state.

    PDP

    Although PDP has lost many of its frontline governorship aspirants, who defected to APC, we gathered that part of the re-organisation of the party in the state is aimed at ensuring that quality aspirants are allowed to contest for the party’s ticket in a free primary. A source said former Governor Peter Obi is at the centre of fresh moves to reposition the party in the state with the view of presenting a widely accepted candidate in the November election.

    One of the top politicians, said to nurse the ambition of flying the party’s flag is the former Aviation Minister, Osita Chidoka. It would be recalled that last month, when the defection bug hit the state chapter of PDP, the former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) had come hard on his former party men. He described the top politicians leaving the PDP “as saboteurs and political jobbers,’ adding that their departure will provide the true members of the PDP “the opportunity to restore the moral compass of the party and return it to the glorious vision of its founding fathers.”

    Speaking at his country home in Obosi, at a meeting of Obosi Ward Executives and selected stakeholders of PDP in Idemili North Local Government in Anambra State, he dismissed APGA as a franchise of his party, the PDP, adding that the PDP is set to take over from APGA.

    “It is the PDP that has been making it possible for APGA to win gubernatorial elections in Anambra State over the years, and now the franchise arrangement has been terminated because the former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, who is the franchisee, has returned to the PDP. The franchise arrangement is canceled and we are taking back our state,” he boasted.

    The scene is set and as the titans prepare for the real battle, observers are eager to see if any of the opponents will dethrone Obiano come November 18.

  • Anambra poll: Aspirants protest poster fee

    Anambra poll: Aspirants protest poster fee

    The nine million naira poster fee imposed on governorship aspirants by the Anambra State government is generating ripples.

    The All Progressive Congress (APC), the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA) and The African Democratic Congress (ADC), said they will challenge the draconian guidline in court.

    The Anambra Managing Director, Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA) and Chief campaigner of APGA, Sir, Jude Emecheta, had declared that anybody aspiring for governorship must pay the amount for his or her posters to be pasted anywhere in the state.

    Emecheta said the fee would be three million in each of the three senatorial zones of Anambra North, Anambra South and Anambra Central. He said defaulters would risk prosecution.

    He added that the law did not permit pasting posters in every place without authorisation.

    Furthermore, he said the agency needed money to clean up the mess generated by such posters after the elections.

    Emecheta said the agency was interested in the outdoor adverts, and ensuring that election posters and other campaign materials did not deface strategic locations in the state.

    He also disclosed that a public enlightenment on the modalities for putting up election posters would commence this month. He said politician should know their limits in pasting posters in public buildings, electric poles, bridges, road dividers, roundabouts among others.

    However, the senatorial candidate of ADC in the Central Zone, Chief Anayo Nweke, said his party would challenge the development in court.

    He said it was another way by the APGA led-government to muscle the opposition in the governorship election, describing it as a mercantile attitude.

    Also, the Progressive People’s Alliance Party, (PPA) chairman, Chief Mathias Emeke, kicked against the directive, describing it as a sign that the government would use its machinery to suppress other contenders.

    He dismissed the claim that the Governor Willie Obiano, who is seeking re-election, would also pay the outrageous fee.

    Emeke said the public had been put on notice that Anambra State Government does not want a healthy competition during the election.

    He said the law would not fly because it was a constitutional matters which, according to him, only the National Assembly could dictate and not even the state.

    “The Incumbent needs no fear if he is sure that he is willingly working, rather he should allow the electorate without confusion, incitement and induce them into wrong voting”

    “Fixing of outrageous fees for party aspirants publicly is a sign of government resentment for popular participation in the coming poll and it is unacceptable and reprehensible too”

    The chairman of the APC Mr. Emeka Ibe, said it was exploitative, outrageous and was done to stop small parties from having candidates.

    The APC chieftain said also that it was a ploy to choke and suffocate poor and indigent candidates, adding that the party was opposing it and ready to challenge APGA government anywhere in the state.

    The chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Ken Emeakayi could not be reached for his reaction.

  • PDP factional chair advises aspirants

    Factional Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State Prince Sunday Fagbemi has urged chairmanship and councillorship aspirants under the PDP to discountenance calls for the payment of N25,000 each to the party’s coffers.

    He said the directive did not emanate from the party’s secretariat.

    Prince Fagbemi also advised party members to shun any meeting called by factional chair Iyiola Oyedepo and slated for next Monday.

    His words: “We want to clarify that members of the state executive council are not a party to the meeting which Oyedepo fixed for November 1.

    “We, therefore, urge party members to disregard invitations to the illegal meeting.

    “The chairmanship and councillorship aspirants should also discountenance Oyedepo’s call for the payment of N25,000 each to the party’s coffers. His latest action is a further testimony to our position that he is only out to divide our rank-and-file and polarise the party to achieve his selfish end.

    “It’s instructive to note that even when he had enough funds to prosecute the last general election, he failed woefully as our party could not win a seat in the House of Assembly.

    “We also warn genuine party members not to be carried away by his criticisms of the government; he is only doing that to seek the government’s attention and patronage.”

  • Why other aspirants should step down for George, by Lagos PDP stakeholders

    Why other aspirants should step down for George, by Lagos PDP stakeholders

    • Southwest Reconciliation Committee to meet aggrieved chieftains

    Efforts to unite the Southwest Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ahead of the proposed national convention, has kicked off as the members of the Reconciliation Committee resolved to meet with aggrieved chieftains to resolve the zoning crisis.

    The Reconciliation Committee, party sources disclosed, is expected to meet with four aggrieved blocs in the zone between now and next week to harmonise positions on the zoning of the national chairmanship.

    The aggrieved blocs are Senator Kashamu Buruji and his camp, the factional zonal leadership, led by Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, aggrieved national chairmanship aspirants and factional executives from Ekiti, Ondo, Osun and Ogun states.

    Members of the Reconciliation Committee include Chief Yekini Adeojo, Senator Teslim Folarin, Senator Kofo Bucknor, Chief Ebenezer Babatope Chief Shuaib Oyedokun, Alhaja Salmont Badru, Elder Wole Oyelese and Dr. Eddy Olafeso.

    The zoning crisis has escalated in the Southwest, following the decision of the zonal leadership to zone the position to Ogun and Lagos states. The two PDP governors; Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State and his Ekiti State counterpart, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, jointly presided over the meeting where the decision was taken, following the decision of the Ahmed Makarfi-led National caretakr Committee to zone the slot to the Southwest.

    There are five national chairmanship aspirants from the zone. Two of them, Chief Bode George and Mr. Jimi Agbaje, are from Lagos. Otunba Gbenga Daniel is from Ogun State. But, the other two aspirants who are not favoured by the “zoning within zoning;” Prof. Taoheed Adedoja from Oyo State and Prof. Tunde Adeniran from Ekiti State, have kicked against their exclusion.

    Some party leaders from Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states have also rejected the new arrangement, saying that it was in bad faith. At the ratification meeting held in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Monday, factional chairmen from the three states stormed out, decrying what they described as injustice.

    A source said: “The Reconciliation Committee has identified four aggrieved blocs. Between now nd next week, the members will traverse the length and breath of the zone to pacify aggrieved members. Some people left the Akure meeting in annoyance. They must be pacified. The purpose is to ensure that we put our house together, ahead of the Port Harcourt convention.”

    The reconciliation notwithstanding, the aspirants have intensified their campaigns in the zone. Yesterday, Lagos State PDP Stakeholders Forum reiterated its support for the chairmanship ambition of Chief Bode George, urging other contestants, including Prof. Tunde Adeniran, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja and Mr. Jimi Agbaje, to step down for him.

    Rising from a meeting in Lagos, prominent party leaders alleged that Southeast and Southsouth governors were trying to impose Agbaje, who was sponsored for last year’s governorship election by George and other leaders.

    The chieftains described the pharmacist-turned politician as a new comer who may not be able to reconcile party members at this critical stage when the party is torn apart by leadership crisis.

    Former Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Hon. Philip Aigboji, who spoke on their behalf, reiterated that George has been endorsed as a consensus candidate, even before he was endorsed by the Southwest PDP leadership.

    He said George, who had served as national vice chairman, national deputy chairman and presidential campaign coordinator, is more qualified than a new comer who lacks experience in party management.

    Aigboji added: “We have absolute confidence in Chief Olabode George. We do not need a non-starter to lead our party. There are some aspirants claiming to be in the race after the party has zoned the slot toOgun and Lagos states. We will not tolerate indiscipline and disloyalty in the PDP.”

    The former commissioner complained about the antics of elements, who he described as extraneous forces working against the interest of the Southwest, advising them to desist from dividing the zone.

    He recalled that the Southwest PDP had been robbed of the Speakership of the House of Representatives in the past, owing to the divisive tendencies of internal and external forces militating against the unity and interest of the region.

    Aigboji added: “The proper thing is that other aspirants-Prof. Adeniran, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, Raymond Dokpesi and Uche Secondus should step down. We all know who the cap fits. Justice and fairness demand that the Southwest should be allow to pick its preferred choice. We are passing theougj a phase now. Our party will come out stronger.”

  • Two Ondo APC aspirants get forms

    Two Ondo APC aspirants get forms

    TWO governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Dr. Bode Ayorinde and Mrs. Jumoke Anifowose, have picked the party’s nomination form in Abuja.

    Ayorinde said he acted on the directive of the party’s National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso.

    The founder, Achievers University, Owo, said he paid the N5 million nomination form and another N500,000 to pick the expression of interest form around 4 pm at the APC National Secretariat, Abuja.

    Sale of forms, according to the party’s time-table, began yesterday and would end on August 5. The last day for submission of completed forms is Monday, August 8.

    Ayorinde, who is the lawmaker representing Owo/Ose, was optimistic that he would pick the APC governorship ticket God willing, and the support of delegates. He was the first aspirant to pay the N2 million APC Development levy.

    Also, the only female aspirant, Mrs. Anifowose, earlier obtained her form free.

  • ‘Why Oshiomhole must meet aggrieved aspirants’

    ‘Why Oshiomhole must meet aggrieved aspirants’

    A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Edo Central senatorial district, Comrade Mathew Emiohe, yesterday advised Governor Adams Oshiomhole to lead a reconciliation committee to meet the aspirants that lost in the primary.

    He gave the advice in Benin on the heels of the PDP governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s declaration, which attracted thousands of PDP faithful across the three senatorial districts.

    Emiohe, a staunch backer of the Edo State Governor Pius Odubu, said the call became necessary, following the discontentment among APC members. He said: “Regardless of the fact that the APC controls political structures in the state and at the centre, it must approach the September 10 governorship election as a united and indivisible family, if it must come out victorious.

    He said that a situation where some proxy of the governor are sent to meet with some of these aspirants, who are still aggrieved, does not augur out well in healing wound.

    Emioge said: “Agreed the primary may have been contested and won but the major battle ahead is winning the September 10th Governorship election which is very key to the APC in the state and that is why the governor as the father of the party in the state should meet all the aspirants one on one and nobody should be neglected because this is politics”

    “Some of the aspirants, no doubt have huge supporters who are waiting patiently for direction from their political leaders as the governorship election approaches. The governor must come down to the level of all and reconcile everybody. It shouldn’t be the case of winner takes it all.

    “We must realize that the opposition PDP are not relenting in their battle to take over the state at all cost and therefore if Edo must continue to remain an APC state, then everybody must be carried along. He added.

  • ‘APC aspirants should reconcile’

    ‘APC aspirants should reconcile’

    All Progressives Congress (APC)  chieftain Hon Mathew Emiohe  yesterday called on the leadership of the party to reconcile aggrieved aspirants, following the emergence of Mr. Godwin Obaseki as the candidate.

    The politician noted that money played a role in the primary, urging the party to avoid the monetisation of the contest in the future.

    He lamented that some delegates did not vote according to their conscience.

    Emiohe, who is a staunch supporter of Edo Deputy Governor Pius Odubu, who lost the party’s ticket to Obaseki, urged the party to reconcile the aggrieve members and restore mutual confidence.

    He said:  “The primary has been won by a party member. I believe that all of us will have to go back to the drawing board and see how we can get the candidate to win.

    “The aspirants that stormed out were upset and I don’t blame them because they have spent a lot of money and we have to be very concerned about this because many of them have their followers. I am a staunch supporter of Odubu and he needs to be talked to. I am angry because of the role of money in this primary and it is not good our democracy.

  • Ondo Poll: APC to meet aspirants

    Ondo Poll: APC to meet aspirants

    The State Executive Committee (SEC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State will tomorrow meet with all its governorship aspirants at the party secretariat in Akure, the state capital.

    In a statement issued and signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya, the party will deliberate on the  primaries and the governorship election slated for November 26.

    Already, over 50 aspirants are jostling for the party ticket.

    The party assured the aspirants that it would put in place necessary machinery to ensure free and fair primaries.

    Meanwhile, a House of Representative lawmaker, representing Akoko South East/Akoko South West, Hon. Kolawole Babatunde, said fair primaries are vital for the party’s success in the forthcoming election.

    Babatunde, who spoke with The Nation in Akungba-Akoko, Akoko South West, particularly emphasised that  holding a free and fair primary would reduce rancour among party members.

    The lawmaker, however, appealed to those who are over ambitious among the aspirants not to use their desperate actions to thwart the chances of the party .He  therefore called on the aspirants to rally round who ever emerges as the party candidate and see the project as an opportunity for the party to serve the masses, who are yearning for change in the state.”Ondo State is yearning for change and I believe that if our party can conduct a free and fair primaries and a sellable candidate emerges, our chances are bright during the November 26, poll.

    “Not only this, it will also unite the party more as all aspirants will accept the outcome of the primaries  if it is transparent. We must ensure that our aspirants are united so that what occurred during the 2012, governorship election would not repeat itself again”, the lawmaker said.