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Tag: ‘Ondo APC

  • Ondo: Boroffice calls for cancellation of APC primary

     

    The senator representing Ondo northern senatorial district, Ajayi Boroffice on Thursday called for the cancellation of the just concluded governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State.

     

    Boroffice, who came fourth, scored 471 votes in an election won by Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), who won the poll with 669 votes.

     

    Also, a member of the House of Represenatives, representing Akoko South West/Akoko South East, Hon. Babatunde Kolawole said the election was characterized with malpractice.

     

    The duo spoke at a reception rally organised by Kolawole and attended by thousands of indigenes of Oka town and its evirons at the Palace of Olubaka of Oka-Akoko in Akoko South West local government, Oba Adebori Adeleye.

     

    Borrofice said he was informed that those who were not delegates voted in the party’s primary election.

     

    He said if the committee finds out the allegation to be true, he is expecting a total cancellation of the exercise.

     

    He said “before the conclusion of the election, I kept hearing the rumor that the delegate list has been infiltrated.

     

    “That there are even some people who are not accredited, who are not even delegates but were given tags and induced to come and vote. And that has been substantiated now and it’s unfortunate.

     

    “I am in support of total cancellation of the election, we must do it again” Borrofice said.

     

    When asked whether he will contest under another party if the primary election result is not cancelled, the lawmaker said he will not leave the APC under any condition.

     

    He said “I am a loyal party man, I had the opportunity to leave the party in 2012 but I didn’t.  I was one of the three people that remained then, among the aspirants

     

    “I am not in this party to be a governor. I am in this progressive party to help build Nigeria

     

    “And if don’t become governor, another person will be a governor, as long as the process is free, fair and credible”, he said.

     

    Kolawole said the senator has just returned from a battle field and they are happy he returned safety despite all the odd against.

     

    The lawmaker commended the national leader of APC, Asiwaju Ahmed for ensuring the party remains united.

     

    The Monarch said the town is happy for the performance of the Senator in the last Saturday primaries of the APC.

     

    He said Boroffice stood tall among other aspirants in the election, adding that he had represented Oka town.

     

    The Monarch stressed that the people of Oka will keep pushing the aspirations of the Asiwaju of Akoko land until he attains the position agitated for, by the people of the community.

     

  • ‘Tinubu has good intention for Ondo APC’

    ‘Tinubu has good intention for Ondo APC’

    AN All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Bolaji Odidi, has hailed the party’s National leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for his efforts in bringing core progressives into the mainstream governance of Ondo State after 16 years of Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) dominance.

    Odidi, who spoke with reporters on the crisis over alleged endorsements of some aspirants in the APC, said the former Lagos State governor, as a political strategist, would not descend too low to endorse any aspirant publicly.

    According to him, the purported endorsement was a political gimmick to intimidate prospective contestants and delegates.

    Odidi, who is a party leader in Ondo South, noted that if the APC national leader has a plan to endorse any aspirant, he would have signified that before collection of nomination forms by aspirants.

    He said: “Asiwaju Tinubu is a man of reputable character. He had made it known before that he would remain neutral in the choice of party candidate for the 2016 governorship poll. If he is interested in imposing any aspirant, he would have done it publicly and not behind the backdoor.”

    The lawyer noted that in 2012 when Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) was picked as candidate by ACN leaders, it was made public and other aspirants were informed.

    He called for credible primaries that would uphold the principle of justice and political cohesion.

    Odidi urged the leadership to consider Ondo South, particularly Ilaje extraction, for deputy governorshiop slot.

    The APC chieftain said the incumbent chairman, Isaac Kekemeke, is from Ijaw axis, Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs Prof. Cladius Daramola hails from Ikale.

    He added that it will be logical if the deputy governor’s slot goes to Ilaje in the interest of justice and fair play.

     

  • A decisive week for Ondo APC

    A decisive week for Ondo APC

    No fewer than 24 Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirants are jostling for the party’s ticket. The primary holds on Saturday. Damisi Ojo examines the chances of the contenders.

    The Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC) will hold its governorship primary at the weekend. No fewer than 24 aspirants are seeking the mandate of the party to be its flagbearer for the election in November. The asppirants would be contesting for the position on the strenght of their political clout and popularity.

    Oluwarotimi Akeredolu

     

    The Owo-born frontline lawyer and activist, came to political reckoning in 2012, when he was picked as the candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). He came third scoring 143,512 votes. Akeredolu, popularly known as Aketi is one of the leading aspirants of the APC. The former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) was appointed the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, during the military regime in Ondo State between 1997 and 1999. Akeredolu, in an interview said: “He had become well known and respected as president of the Bar, and described himself as a progressive. If elected, his priorities would include agricultural development, fish farming for export, improvement in education, jobs for youths and improved roads”. He would provide free education and primary health care. He was in favour of increased subsidy and greater local control over public spending. Akeredolu will be relying on his structures from the defunct ACN. However, many analysts are of the view that he has had his own chance in 2012 ,but failed and he should give the opportunity to other aspirants

     

    Senator Ajayi Boroffice

     

    Senator Robert Ajayi Borrofice, an indigene of Oka-Akoko in Akoko South West local government area, was a lecturer at the University of Ibadan in 1975 and Professor of Zoology at the Lagos State University in 1986. Boroffice became a household name in the state when he was appointed the founding Director General of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) in 1999. He is a second timer at the National Assembly. He was elected in the Senate in 2011 and the platform of the Labour Party (LP) as the senator representing Ondo Northern district. He fell out with  Governor Olusegun Mimiko and defected to the defunct ACN in December 2011, where he was among the governorship aspirants in 2012. He was asked to drop his ambitions. and support Akeredolu. Boroffice, defeated the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Senator Bode Olajumoke during last year’s senatorial poll. Boroffice is one of the few leaders, who were the rallying points for the party members immediately the ACN lost the governorship election in 2012. The senator contributed financially to the party and also motivated some aggrieved politicians from other parties to defect to the APC. Boroffice might have used that opportunity to build a political structure for himself and for his re-election into the Senate. There is no doubt that he is one of the leading aspirants and he may be relying on his structures across the 18 local governments to clinch the ticket. The senator has a political godson, Hon. Kolawole Babatunde, who is representing Akoko South East/Akoko South West in the House of Representatives, who through his “Kolawole Grassroot Network” has been canvassing for votes for his boss from the delegates. He was rated the most popular aspirant by the screening committee set up by the Akoko leaders,but his political antagonists argued that he should sustain his seat at the Senate, quit the governorship race and continue to offer leadership to his community as the Asiwaju of Akokoland.

     

    Senator Tayo Alasoadura

     

    Senator Tayo ALasoadura is a former Commissioner for Finance under the late Governor Olusegun Agagu between 2003 and 2009.  Alasoadura is from Akure kingdom and a founding member of APC. He was elected as a senator representing the Central district in 2015. He defected to the ACN in 2012 and also showed interest in the ticket that same year. But, he was eventually appointed the Director-General of the Akeredolu Campaign Organisation. Alasoadura is known to be a grassroot politician. He is the only aspirants in APC whose posters or bill board will not be seen anywhere. It is also believed that he is not a push over in governorship race in the state and that he may spring surprise in the primary.

    Segun Abraham

     

    Mr. Segun Abraham, an indigene of Ikare-Akoko in Akoko North East, is a successful investor. He iss one of the pioneering members of the All Progressives Party(APC). He has remained a core progressives, right from the days of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). Abraham was also one of those who campaigned for former Governor Adebayo Adefarati. He was appointed the Chairman of Owena Hotels until the hotel was bought by Oodua Investment.  His ambition is being backed by the National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu. His rumoured endorsement has caused disharmoy in the party, especially among the other aspirants. But that the APC has assured the party aspirants that the primary would not be influence in favour of anyone.

     

    Olusola Oke

     

    Chief Olusola Oke, a lawyer, is from the oil producing community, Ilowo in Ilaje local government area. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 1992 to represent Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency. Oke, a pioneer PDP member, was the governorship candidate of the party in 2012. He came second in the poll. Oke was the Chairman of Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC), a position he held until he voluntarily resigned in October, 2006 to run for PDP ticket for Ondo South Senatorial District. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him as a commissioner representing Ondo State on the Governing Board of NDDC in 2000. He defected to the APC, shortly after the presidential election last year. He is among the APC aspirants who had visited all the delegates in the various local governments. Oke is known to be  tactician, whose emergence as the APC candidate will cause a crack in the PDP. But, he must do an extra job for the ticket as many party members believe that he is still new in the party.

     

    Jumoke Anifowose

     

    Jumoke Anifowose, the daughter of former Governor Adekunle Ajasin is the only female among the 24 aspirants. She was appointed the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice during  Adefarati’s regime in 1999. She was also the ACN chairman between 2010 and 2012 before she resigned to contest for the party ticket. She is relying on her father’s legacies which are still rated as the best among all the governors who had served and still serving the state. Anifowse, who is also a close ally of leaders of APC like Tinubu, Chief Akande and others, has been preaching to delegates the need to give a woman a chance to rule the state.

     

    Jamiu Ekungba

     

    Chief Jamiu Afolabi Ekungba, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN)and a former member of the Governing Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria, an astute forensic auditor, a one-time President of the West African Bankers Association, worked for 24 years in the banking industry. He left as the General Manager/Chief Executive Officer.  He is a traditional chief of Owo kingdom and also a member of Board of Trustees of the ruling APC. He contested the ACN ticket in 2012 before it was giving to his kinsman, Akeredolu. Since then, he has remained a loyal party member and which fetch the appointment as APC Board of Trustees. He is one of the leading aspirants, who may clinch the ticket. He had been advocating for the need for the people to give someone who has accounting knowledge the chance to rule the state. He has promised to fix the economy of the state within 45 days, if emerges as the governor.

     

    Tunji Abayomi

     

    Tunji Abayomi, an activist and a lawyer, has been in the camp of progressives for decades. He was a chieftain of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). The Oke-Agbe-born politician contested the ticket in 2007 before it was given to Prince Ademola Adegoroye. Since then, he has remained among the few who refused to dump the party. Abayomi, an ally of Tinubu since the days of NADECO, also an aspirant in in 2012 before it was eventually given to Akeredolu. He recently expressed his displeasure over an allegation that his friend, Tinubu, had  endorsed an aspirant,but he has got the reply swiftly by the APC national leader that he has the right to support an aspirant that he would not influence the primary.

     

    Bukola Adetula

     

    He is the son of the one of the late Obafemi Awolowo’s loyalist’s in Ondo polities. The Owo-born lawyer in Ondo Politics, but believes he has the exposure and experience to rule the state. In one of his recent interview he said: “Leadership, a lot of times, comes from different areas. The exposure I have had, my life experiences, the fact that I have travelled for and wide, the fact that I have been a successful professional, that I have also been a successful businessman, I have developed businesses, held leadership positions in different organisations and exposed in different areas. When you put everything together, the professional and business experiences and the background that I have, the pedigree that I have, I believe that qualifies me to be the next governor of Ondo State”.

     

     

    Akinrinsola Odunayo

     

    Odunayo, a Lagos based successful businessman, is from Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo local government. He is one of the youngest aspirants. He is also fresh in Ondo politics but one of the earliest aspirants, whose posters  flooded the state because others started declaring their interests. Like others, he has also moved round the nooks and crannies of the state soliciting for votes from the delegates. He believes there should be a radical departure from what they call continuity in the state to what they call change.

     

    Bode Ayorinde

     

    Hon. Bode Ayorinde an indigene of Owo local government and the current House of Representatives member, representing Owo/Ose Federal Constituency. He is one of the members, who had been oiling the party machinery financially since he was elected last year. Few months after he was sworn-in, he purchased over 20 vehicles for the party. He also bought motorcycles for ward chairmen. He has moved around the councils to solicit for support. He will be relying on his contribution to the party to win the ticket. Ayorinde, popularly called ‘Achiever’is said to be very close to the APC chairman  Isaac Kekemeke

     

    Boye Oyewumi

     

    He is from Ile-Oluji-Oke-Igbo local government and one of the new comers into the Ondo State politics. Oyewumi is a Lagos based businessman and the owner of the the Silverage Group. He has called for purposeful and visionary leadership, saying he has over three decades private sector experience, political activism and global exposure.

     

    Ademola Adegoroye

     

    Ademola Adegoroye, an indigene of Akure, was the governorship candidate of the AC in 2007 but lost out in the election that was later decided by an Appeal Court in Benin in 2009 in favour of Governor Olusegun Mimiko. Since then, he had been inconsistent in the progressive fold as he defected to the PDP. His sojourn in the PDP became controversial when he joined some aggrieved members to work against the interest of the party in 2012 governorship election. The group is popularly known as “PDP gbasibe”. To save his political career, he returned to the APC.

     

    Akinwale Akingbade

     

    Akinwale Akingbade is also an indigene of Akure and one of the new comers to politics in Ondo State.

     

    Ayo Akinyelure

     

    Senator Ayo Akinyelure is one of the few politicians who defected to APC, shortly before the 2015 general election. He is an indigene of Idanre local government. He is a banker and he believed is that he has experiences, to rescue the state from the economic doldrums.

     

    Victor Olabimtan

     

    The former Speaker of the  House of Assembly is from Supare in Akoko South West local government. He was in the PDP for  many years before defecting with some Agagu’s loyalists to the APC. He was appointed federal commissioner in the Federal Civil Service Commission  by former President Goodluck Jonathan to represent Ondo,Ekiti and Edo states. He is a grassroot politician and he has structures in all local governments.

     

    Niyi Adegbonmire

     

    He is the son of the former Secretary to the Government (SSG), the late Chief Wumi Adegbonmire. He is from Akure. He is new to Ondo politics. He may be relying on his father’s political legacies and relationship with APC leaders to clinch the ticket.

     

    Dele Alade

     

    Dele Alade is a judge in the United States and a prominent leader of the APC in diaspora. Alade is also an indigene of Akure.  He played active role in the AD in 2007. Like other aspirant, he has also met some delegates on the need to support his ambition.

     

    Tunji Light Ariyomo

     

    He is another Akure indigene seeking the ticket. He is a youthful leader and motivator in Ondo State. He studied Energy Engineering at the University of Sheffield (England) and as a Civil and Structural Engineer at the Federal University of Technology Akure. Ariyomo is an advocate of a technology driven economic sector. He served under Adefarati and also worked for Agagu.

     

    Foluso Adefemi

     

    Adefemi is from Ifira-Akoko and a business mogul. He has been canvassing for votes from delegates, ahead of the primary. He has a business pact with Dangote Group of Companies.

     

    Awodeyi Akinfehinwa

     

    Akinfehinwa, popularly known as Apata is among the best three allegedly recommended by the Kekemeke to the party leaders. He contested the ACN ticket in 2012, but refused to defect when others politicians like Olu Agunloye, Saka Lawal and others joined the LP and PDP respectively. He is from Owo local government and also counting on the delegates to cast their votes for him.

     

    Moyosola Niran Oladunni

     

    Oladunni is from Ikare Akoko and a business mogul. He is an expert in startups business development and chain process management. He is also the pioneer African Vice President, International Road Dynamics Africa, a subsidiary of IRD Corporation in Canada as well as the Executive Vice Chairman of Axis System and Solutions, which is a major player in infrastructure development in the aviation industry. He contested for the ticket under the PDP in 2012.

     

    Paul Akintelure

     

    Akintelure has withdrawn from the race in support of Abraham’s ambition. He was the running mate to Akeredolu in 2012. Before then, he was the South senatorial candidate of the ACN in the 2011 general elections. He is one the major financiers of the party in the district and a loyal party leader.

  • All eyes on Ondo APC

    All eyes on Ondo APC

    Ah! How time flies. 24 hours can be the equivalent of a million years in politics. It seems just like yesterday when there was the 2012 epic battle for the much coveted governorship seat of Ondo State. Yet, another contest for the prized position is barely two months away. Today, the political terrain both of the nation and that of Ondo State is fundamentally transformed. In 2012, the mercurial Governor Olusegun Mimiko was seeking a second term on the platform of the Labour Party. The then opposition but now defunct Action Congress of Nigeria ( ACN), riding on the momentum of its resurgence in the South West, gave him a valiant but ultimately unsuccessful challenge.

    While most bizarrely spurning its own candidate, Mr Olusola Oke (SAN), the ruling party at the centre, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), threw its weight behind Mimiko. With federal might on his side and the attendant, even if barely disguised, support of the security agencies and the electoral umpire, Mimiko cruised home to victory. Although he secured victory in three Local Government Areas, ACN’s Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) was placed third to the PDP’s Olusola Oke who won in just two local governments. This was clearly a clever ploy to preempt any successful legal contestation of the polls by the ACN.

    Nearly four years after, Dr Olusegun Mimiko has spectacularly failed to convert his 2012 victory, despite popular speculation at the time, into an opportunity either to rebuild and strengthen the Labour Party or reposition himself as a principal arrowhead in the ebullient politics of the South West. This has not been due to a lack of charisma, intellect or even a degree of relative performance. Mimiko seems to have been the principal victim of his personalist, imperial ambitions in the South West, his consequent nonchalance towards his region’s much desired regional integration and his dismal reading of the tone and tenor of national politics. Thus, he abandoned the Labour Party virtually in tatters and pitched his tent with a PDP that has now not only been dethroned at the centre but is barely struggling to survive as a viable entity. Mimiko’s saving grace in the politics of Ondo State, the South West and Nigeria now largely depends on the APC shooting itself in the foot and snatching defeat from the jaws of imminent victory in the November 26governorship election.

    It is against this background that we can best understand why over 50 aspirants showed interest in the APC governorship ticket and at least 24 of them will be slugging it out in next Wednesday’s primaries. The APC has all the odds in its favour and is clearly the party to beat in the next Ondo governorship election. A wily strategist, Mimiko has endorsed his former Attorney General, Mr Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) to fly the PDP’s ticket in the elections. In backing a candidate from Ondo Central Senatorial district, his own electoral base, Mimiko has thrown a spanner in the wheel of the state’s unwritten zoning agreement for the governorship position and will definitely be counting on the zone’s voting population strength to ensure victory for his party. If the APC gets its act together, however, a combination of  votes from Ondo South and Ondo North Central districts, at least in the primaries, will most likely neutralize the Ondo Central factor particularly so because a significant proportion of residents of Ondo Central are from the South and North Senatorial districts.

    The APC’s advantage in being the party in control at the centre this time around is not unlikely to be mitigated by the widely perceived lethargic and below par performance of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration close to one and a half years in office. However, Mimiko himself is widely adjudged of attaining a tame and barely average performance given the relative resource endowment of Ondo State as the only oil producing state in the South West reaping substantial derivation revenue from the Federation Account. Again,  Mimiko’s PDP faces an even greater inhibiting factor of being torn down the middle in the fight unto death struggle between the Senator Ahmed Makarfi and Senator Ali Modu Sherrif factions with the strong possibility that there may be no amicable resolution of the intra party crisis before the election. It is thus not impossible that Mimiko will have a likely surrogate candidate in one or two of the other parties. Given his strategic skills, he may even be waiting to endorse an aggrieved party from the APC if the latter does not maturely and skillfully resolve any conflicts arising from its primaries.

    Interestingly, a highly cerebral but most unlikely candidate to emerge in the APC primaries, Dr Tunji Abayomi, appears destined to play a key role in the eventual outcome of the intra party contest. Abayomi is a veteran of several governorship electoral contests in Ondo State. His integrity and progressive credentials are impeccable. However, he does not appear to have been able to build a political structure formidable enough to ensure the achievement of his enduring ambition. Dr Abayomi has publicly accused the National leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, of having endorsed another aspirant, Chief Olusegun Abraham. Not only has Tinubu denied this while reiterating his democratic right to support any aspirant of his choice, the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Oyegun, has affirmed that endorsement of an aspirant by any leader of the party is not tantamount to imposition. This is because free and fair primaries will be conducted by the party in the open glare of the public and the media. In any case, Dr Abayomi was silent on whether or not some other aspirants enjoy the support or endorsement of other leaders of the party.

    But Dr Abayomi’s vituperation against Tinubu raises at least two key issues. First, it suggests that Tinubu’s support or endorsement is critical and capable of weighing the scales in favour of any aspirant. In a state as enlightened and with a proud and independent minded people as Ondo,  the Tinubu factor cannot be solely a function of financial muscle. It must also partly have to do with a track record of leadership integrity, consistency and credibility. Secondly, if true, it is certainly reasonable to ask what about Chief Segun Abraham endeared him to Tinubu, especially as some of the other APC aspirants including Dr Abayomi  are known associates of the APC chieftain. My discussion with some keen observers of Ondo State politics, including Dr Paul Akintelure, who was Mr Rotimi Akeredolu’s running mate in the 2012 election,  indicate that Abraham is an astute grassroots canvasser, organizer and mobilizer. He is an international business mogul of repute who is believed to have the organizational acumen to lift Ondo State to a higher economic and developmental pedestal even though, like the great Obafemi Awolowo, he may not be a gifted political orator.

    Even if he has Tinubu’s support, however, Segun Abraham cannot afford to rest on his oars. He faces a field of many other no less competent, able and formidable aspirants. Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) was the APC candidate in the 2012 election. He is an outstanding legal practitioner of sound character and integrity. It is not, however, unlikely that Governor Mimiko will be quite comfortable to confront his well known foe once again in political battle. Mr Olusola Oke, another legal practitioner, proved himself as a keen and intelligent debater and a hard fighter in the last election. Not only does he hail from Ondo South Senatorial District while the APC informal zoning arrangement is in favor of the North, voters may not be able to make any significant distinction between him and the PDP.

    I personally know Professor Ajayi Borrofice as an academic of high intellect from my days at the University of Ibadan. He is an experienced administrator and a tested electoral combatant at least in Akokoland. Apart from reported deep rooted disaffection with some key political leaders of his Senatorial District, he is said to have pledged not to seek the governorship seat when campaigning for re-election to the Senate. Chief Tayo Alasoadura is another major aspirant. As his name suggests, he will need to clothe himself with a lot of prayers to achieve his ambition. All eyes will certainly be on the Ondo State APC in next week’s titanic battle for the party’s ticket.

    Improving power supply?

    I have noticed a not insignificant improvement in electricity supply in my area of Lagos in recent weeks. My inquiry from some other residents of the state suggests that this is not an isolated trend although it could be limited to urban centers. Even then, it is a good beginning and possibly an indication of better things to come. There must certainly be something that the three in one Minister (apologies to Sam Omatseye), Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) is doing right and it will be intellectually dishonest not to say so. Well, as he is wont to say, the result of hard work is more work! Keep it up sir.

     

  • I ’ll reunite Ondo APC if voted candidate, says  Oladunni

    I ’ll reunite Ondo APC if voted candidate, says  Oladunni

    A governorship aspirant of the Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC), Moyosola Niran-Oladunni, has vowed to reunite the party before the November governorship election, if voted as its candidate.

    Niran-Oladunni made his intention known while addressing a group of concerned professionals and youths in separate meetings in Ose Local Government and Akure, the state capital.

    The aspirant, who described his candidature as a unifying factor within the APC, enjoined his fellow aspirants to respect the party’s supremacy and accord its leaders the respect and honour due to them.

    He submitted that the interest of the party must be placed above any personal or individual interest.

    The aspirant appealed to party members to “unite behind a common candidate to ensure victory for the party and also liberate the state from the grip of the present crop of selfish leaders”.

  • Senator urges Ondo APC leaders to prevent defection

    Senator urges Ondo APC leaders to prevent defection

    THE Chairman of the Elders Forum of Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Olorunnimbe Farukanmi, yesterday urged the party’s elders to ensure that no aspirant defect from the fold after the August 27 primary election.

    He appealed to the party’s national leadership to conduct a transparent primary that would be accepted by the aspirants after the exercise.

    Farukanmi spoke at a meeting organised by one of the aspirants, Chief Jamiu Ekungba, with the APC elders at the party’ssecretariat in Akure, the state capital.

    He stressed that the elders must begin to talk to the aspirants on the need to remain in the party and support whoever emerges as the party’s candidate.

    Farukanmi said the elders were ready to work and support any aspirant, who wins the party primary.

    His words: “There must be no crisis among aspirants. Elders must support anyone who emerges as the party’s candidate.

    “We must talk to all the aspirants on the need to remain in the party because we don’t want the government of PDP to continue in Ondo State.”

    Ekungba said the state needs a finance expert as a governor to clear the financial mess that would be left behind by the outgoing government.

    The aspirant, who is a chartered accountant, said he is fit to return the lost glory of the state.

    He vowed to establish age-friendly government that would give enough room to the youths and the elders.

  • 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.

  • “There’ll be no imposition in Ondo APC”

    All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Ondo State, Chief Olusola Oke, has expressed optimism that the party would not zone the ticket to any senatorial zone. Oke, who said the party’s candidate for the November governorship election would emerge through a party primaries, assured that APC would not impose any of the aspirants on its members.

    The lawyer spoke at Okitipupa, headquarters of the Okitipupa Council Area during his ongoing tour of the 18 council areas of the state to canvass for the support of the delegates. At the event, scores of former PDP members in the area, defected to the APC. The new members were received into the party by the APC chairman in the local government, Chief Wole Akeremale.

    According to him, “the doors of APC are wide open to receive new members. But as you come, you must remember this is a party of peace and respect for constituted authorities.”

    Oke said the high number of aspirants jostling for the APC governorship ticket was as a result of the people’s quest to replace the present Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government in the state and the demonstration of internal democracy in APC. He said “the choice of the right candidate who can win election for the party lies with the delegates.”

    Oke told the delegates that he was well suited for the ticket in view of his wide political and public experiences  and sterling qualities which none of the remaining aspirants could match.

    “If I become the governor, I will restore the prosperity of the state which the present administration had traded away with its incompetence and lack of ideas for people-oriented policies and projects,” he promised.

  • ‘Give us the best aspirant as Ondo APC flagbearer’

    A group, the Ondo Elites Group (OEG), has urged the leadership of All Progressives Congress (APC) and its delegates to present an experienced and credible candidate as the party’s flag bearer in the November 26 governorship election in the State.

    A statement issued by the General Secretary of the group, Dr. Taiwo Ajana, urged the party’s leadership to learn from the mistakes of the past, particularly the 2012 governorship election, when the ticket of the party was given to a not too popular candidate.

    The situation, according to the group, was responsible for the poor performance of the party in the guber election, as the candidate came a distant third in the election.

    The group insisted that the 2012 mistake was also responsible for the agony the entire people of Ondo State are going through today in the hands of Dr. Olusegun Mimiko whose second tenure has subjected the people to unprecedented level of poverty and squalor occasioned by a total neglect of infrastructural facilities and bad governance on the part of his administration.

    “The people cannot afford to allow a repeat of the past mistakes as the leadership of APC will never be forgiven if Mimiko is allowed to have his way again and impose his anointed candidate on the people during the coming elections,” the group cautioned.

    “Our findings revealed that since Mimiko could not stop the re-election of Senator Ajayi Boroffice to the senate in spite of the enormous resources and forces he deployed against his reelection bid during the last general elections, then Boroffice appears the best candidate for the APC to clinch the governorship position in the coming governorship elections,” it said.

    The group noted that Senator Boroffice has not only proved himself as a committed and loyal member of the APC, but is also one of the few AOC chieftains in the state who has never lost his unit, ward or local government to the opposition since he joined politics.

    For example,the group recalled that in the 2012 governorship election where the then ACN candidate,Akeredolu lost to  Mimiko in far third position,Boroffice was one of the few leaders of the then ACN who successfully delivered his polling unit,ward and local government to his party.

    Also,in the last elections,the group noted that the Asiwaju of Akokoland strategically dismantled all barriers and countered all forces and attempts by Mimiko and his associates from his senatorial district.

  • Ondo APC condoles with Alasoadura

    Ondo APC condoles with Alasoadura

    THE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has commiserated with the senator representing Ondo Central, Tayo Alasoadura, over the death of his wife, Adetayo.

    A condolence message by its Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Adesanya, in Akure, the state capital, described the late Mrs. Alasoadura as one of the pillars of the APC’s success in last year’s general elections.

    Adesanya said: “Her robust activities were not unconnected with Senator Alasoadura’s political ambition.

    “Mrs. Alasoadura’s death is a big blow to us in Ondo APC at this crucial period in our state.

    “Our condolences go to the widower, the children, friends and family, the people of Iju/Itaogbolu, Akure Kingdom.

    “We pray God to give the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”