One of the governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, has called on aggrieved aspirants in the party’s governorship primary not to defect to another party.
The aggrieved aspirants, Olusola Oke, Dr. Olusegun Abraham and Senator Ajayi Boroffice, who lost the primary to a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Rotimi Akeredolu had asked for cancellation of the primary’s results and allegedly threatened to leave the party.
Abayomi, who spoke with our correspondent on Saturday in Akure, said the decision to leave the APC would affect the party negatively.
The aggrieved aspirants on Saturday criticised the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, for overruling the appeal committee’s recommendation, pointing out that the decision was undemocratic.
“Leaving the APC for another party is like jumping out of the frying pan into the fire. Is it the Peoples Democratic Party that is comatose that is a better party? Or, the Social Democratic Party or Action Alliance that are just parties in name (they want to join)? What is required now is for everyone to work together. So, I will appeal to them to forget the past and support the APC to win the governorship election,” Abayomi stated.
However, a group, Akoko Youth Movement for Good Governance, advised Oke to leave the APC for another party to contest the governorship poll.
The group under the auspices of the Akoko Youth movement for Good Governance said this in a statement issued on Friday by its President, Mr. Adewumi Gbenga.
It said it was ready to support Oke in another party since the NWC of the APC had affirmed the result of the primary in spite of the alleged fraud discovered.
Meanwhile, the Deputy National Vice-Chairman (South-West) of the National Conscience Party, Mr. Abdulwaheed Lawal, has accused the APC of making life difficult for Nigerians.
Abdulwaheed, while addressing delegates at the primary of the NCP held in Akure, the state capital of Ondo State, said the APC and the PDP had no solution to the problems of the state.
He said, “We don’t have money to share, because the bigger parties have monetised everything. They thought they could use money to buy the people’s conscience in the coming poll. It will not be possible for them. We want our people to reject them and their money and vote a right candidate presented by the NCP.”
Reacting to NCP chieftain’s comment, the APC spokesperson in the state, Mr. Abayomi Adesanya, stated that the NCP leaders were ignorant of efforts being made by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to salvage the country.
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