Ondo State’s All Progressive Congress leaders, represented by the “Aborigine” faction, have thrown their weight behind Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as their favored candidate for the upcoming April 20 gubernatorial primary.
Ahead of the party’s primary election, eleven hopefuls have secured their nomination forms to vie for candidacy.
Speaking to journalists in Akure, Ambassador Sola Iji, their spokesperson, revealed that all the contenders underwent screening overseen by a committee chaired by Honorable (Mrs) Christy Olufowose.
According to Iji, Governor Aiyedatiwa garnered 777 points, Wale Akinterinwa secured 587 points, and the late Dr. Paul Akintelure achieved a score of 612 points.
“we unanimously agreed to set up a 9-man committee headed by Hon(Mrs) Christy Olufowose to identify the various aspirants jostling for the ticket of our party; assess them using some well-thought out criteria and present three of them for further consideration by the leadership of the group.
”In our last meeting, the committee submitted their report wherein Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Hon Wale Akinterinwa and Dr Paul Akintelure were recommended.
”The group mandated its leadership to have further consultation and deliberations in arriving at the choice of our preferred aspirant.
“Consequently, the leadership of the group met, reviewed the report of the committee and considered the three recommended aspirants qualified and worthy.
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“However, in contriving the choice of our preferred aspirant, the leaders believed that it is normal and conventional to offer right of first refusal to His Excellency, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa as a sitting Governor.
“Additionally, his achievements since assuming office as Governor such as, (1) his commitment to infrastructural development, (2)payment of backlog of salaries of workers in Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, (3) release of one billion naira to University of Medical Sciences and one point two billion to Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology respectively, (4) payment of wage awards and January, 2017 outstanding salary to civil servants in the state, (5) return of free shuttle buses for the convenience of students in the state were considered as remarkable score points.
“On the whole, having been satisfied with the conduct and performance of his Excellency, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, we are pleased to inform the general public that he is our preferred aspirant in the forthcoming governorship primary of APC in Ondo State.
“By this decision, we are determined to deploy our numerical strength and resources to ensure the victory of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa at the primary.
“It is our fervent belief that Governor Aiyedatiwa’s candidature will position our party for a resounding victory at the general election and engender good governance in the state.
Iji lamented the neglect suffered by members of the assembly, which included leaders from the dissolved ANPP, ACN, and CPC—political entities that eventually coalesced to form the All Progressive Congress.
He underscored that notwithstanding their considerable numerical potency, substantial contributions, and remarkable sacrifices for the ongoing development of the APC in Ondo State.
He expressed discontent, stating that their community had not received the recognition and respect they deserved in previous years. They lamented being marginalized, left behind, and relegated to a state of neglect.