In the aftermath of the contentious governorship primary within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, the party’s national leadership has moved to mend fences with the aspirants.
The APC convened a reconciliatory meeting with the 16 contenders vying for the gubernatorial ticket, for the September 11 contest.
Notably, 14 of the aspirants, including incumbent governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, converged at the party’s national secretariat on Thursday.
The APC deputy national publicity secretary, Duro Meseko, along with Ondo State party chairman, Ade Adetimehin, addressed journalist after the close door meeting with conclusion of the National Working Committee, NWC, meeting with the gubernatorial aspirants and the emergence of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the party’s candidate.
He said,“It was agreed that 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.
The meeting was attended by 15 out of the 16 aspirants that participated in the exercise including Governor Aiyedatiwa, Olusoji Adewale Ehinlanwo, a former member of the House of Assembly; Hon. Olugbenga Omogbemi Edema, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Funmilayo Waheed-Adekojo and Hon. Akinfolarin Mayo Samuel.
Others were Olusola Oke, SAN; Ohunyeye Olamide Felix and Barr. Morayo Lebi, Garvey Oladiran Iyanjan; former Ondo Finance Commissioner Hon. Adewale Akinterinwa, Prof. Francis Adebayo Faduyile, Judith Folakemi Omogoroye, Ifeoluwa Oyedele and Hon. Omo Oba Okunjimi Odimayo while APC National Vice Chairman (South West) Isaac Kekemeke was absent.
Notably, the absence of prominent figures such as Isaac Kekemeke, the National Vice Chairman (South-West), and Wale Akinterinwa, the former Commissioner for Finance, was conspicuous during the meeting.
Akinterinwa’s absence was reportedly due to his detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with financial issues from his time in office.
the national chairman of the APC, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, presided over the gathering, urging the aspirants to set aside past grievances and collaborate for the party’s greater good.
Drawing from his own political journey, Ganduje emphasized that setbacks do not define one’s future success, encouraging the aspirants to remain resilient and focused on their shared objective of securing victory for the APC in Ondo State.
