National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, on Sunday, expressed optimism that the party will be victorious in the forthcoming November 16, 2024 governorship election in Ondo state.
This is just as critical stakeholders of APC across the Southwest region converged on the state capital, Akure, to reconcile all the sides in the “family feud” within the state chapter of the party arising from the post-primary election.
The meeting, which was also attended by most of the aggrieved aspirants of the party who participated in the APC’s gubernatorial primary, was put together to strategize ahead of the November governorship election in Ondo State.
The leaders include the National Chairman of the party, Ganduje, National Vice Chairman, (South) of the APC, Mr Isaac Kekemeke, the governors of Ondo, Ekiti, and Lagos States, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Abiodun Oyebanji and Babajide Sanwolu respectively, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele among others.
Addressing the party members, the party’s National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, called on all aggrieved members to close ranks and work as a team to ensure victory in the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo.
He explained that the APC had begun to speak with one voice and that all the aggrieved aspirants had expressed their readiness to team up with others to ensure that the party has a strong showing at the polls.
He said the party leaders’ convergence had put an end to the process of reconciling APC in the state, urging the APC family to always speak with one voice.
He said “Our target is to win the election, our mission is to give assurance that the party is solidly behind you. All stakeholders have put their hands together to ensure successful election.
“We are so encouraged by the unity, solidarity, vigour especially when we invited all those aspirants who contested. We are to encourage, energise you, support you and to ensure that this election is a task that must be done”
Speaking to the aspirants, “We cannot say you lost the election but it’s a win-win situation for all of us and those aspirants who have already said they are behind the party’s candidate.
“Apart from those who contested the primary, the problem we have had been solved with assurance from all the aggrieved quarters. We are expecting 90 percent in the election, make sure you know those who are supposed to vote in your units and ensure they are mobilised to come out for the election.
“We assure you that Tinubu is the best we have and we must deliver a 100 percent in favour of APC in this election and in the South West region. We assure you we are strategising to take over the two other states in this region”
In his opening remarks, Governor Sanwo-Olu, Southwest coordinator, appealed to every member on the need to unite and go to the poll in unity.
He also appealed to all party members, particularly all the aggrieved aspirants to work for the victory of the APC in the forthcoming poll.
The Lagos governor said “The South West APC leaders meeting was successful. What we have to do is let you that the entire APC leadership is solidly behind you and you could have gone through turbulent times or have differences in opinions and ideas after all these, it is important for us to come together as a family again. That’s the essence of being here today.
“We have come here as a happy family, as APC family, we have come here to strengthen the party and none of you will be left behind, nobody will be taken for granted as all of you are important, strategic, and critical in the delivery of our election on November 16.
“We have acknowledged yesterday’s Ondo, we are acknowledging today’s Ondo state, and the future is bright for Ondo state.
“This our in-house meeting is to embrace all of us, is to beg all of us and for all for us to agree to put whatever we have behind us. What is ahead of us is greater than what is behind us and that’s forward ever, backward never.
“The future is bright for Ondo. We must agree. We can’t get any leadership support other than this. For me, it is to congratulate all of us. I am happy for the turnout. If we come together, we will win.
“We are going out for an election, we need everyone in this election, that is why I brought everyone together, to come and appeal to you. More than 85 percent of the votes we must get,”
Similarly, the Ekiti Governor, Oyebanji urged the members to ensure the APC retains the state and said “November 16, is a deciding moment in the history of our state, the victory is achievable, we have a duty to ensure the achievement of Akeredolu is not reversed.
“We have a duty to keep Ondo State in the progressive circle. Coming second is not an option. We must retain APC in power,” Oyebanji charged.
Speaking, the Senate Leader, Bamidele urged the party to integrate all the aggrieved members in order to foster unity ahead of the forthcoming election.
“I want to say that the true heroes are the aspirants . I beg you in the name of God. This is actually the President’s election. Make them (aggrieved aspirants) relevant, integrate them. This reconciliation continues after the election because, the PDP doesn’t have a candidate, after the election, he (Agboola Ajayi) is still coming back.”
Speaking, One of the aggrieved aspirants, Chief Olusola Oke said all the 16 aspirants have agreed to work for Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to ensure that the opposition party does not take over the state.
Oke said; “All the 16 aspirants have resolved to settle and agree to work with the candidate of our party.We believe that we should not allow the state to slip into opposition.”
Also speaking, aggrieved aspirants, Wale Akinterinwa said APC must win the forthcoming governorship election in the state and assured that all within the reach of the all aggrieved aspirants will be done to assure victory for Aiyedatiwa.
The former Finance commissioner said, “It is in our best interest and self-interest that Ondo state must not fall into the hands of any other party except APC.
“No matter what might have happened in the past it must be allowed to go and let’s join hands for the future, the truth is that whatever has happened has happened.
“What must happen in this state come November 16 is that Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa must win the election. We must put all resources together to ensure that the results of that election will be far better than the expectations of our leaders.
“We will close ranks, we will appeal to one another and I can assure you that we will have cause to rejoice. I remain in the party and I can never leave APC, I am part of the progressives and it is too late now to quit”
Some of the former aspirants who attended the reconciliation meeting, include Chief Olusola Oke, Isaac Kekemeke, Wale Akinterinwa, and Mrs Oladunni Odu.
