THE Elders Forum and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, on Thursday, challenged the state Governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu to lead the campaigns of all the candidates for the National Assembly election in the state to dismiss the insinuation that the governor was working for opposition candidates in the forthcoming election.
The leaders who specifically alleged the governor of working for candidates of Action Alliance (AA) urged the governor to come out to openly campaign for APC
Led by the former Deputy Governor of the State, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, the elders asked the governor to bring all members of the party together irrespective of the camps they belong for the campaigns, saying the governor remains the leader of the party in the state.
In a communiqué issued by the elders at the end of its meeting held in Akure, the state capital, noted that the involvement and leading of campaigns by Akeredolu would go a long way to convince some “doubting Thomas” that the governor was not working against the candidates of the party in the next month election.
Akeredolu had been allegedly accused of working for the candidates of rival Action Alliance (AA) who failed to secure the ticket of APC during the party’s primaries held in May last year.
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The leaders noted that the governor had dispelled the allegation of funding AA against APC at different political forum, but said “the governor should campaign for candidates of APC for Ondo North senatorial seat, Ondo South senatorial seat, Akoko Northwest/Akoko Northwest, Akoko Southwest and Akoko Southeast and Idanre/Ifedore federal constituencies.”
They stated in the communique that “the meeting noted that evidence and records exist of the support and funding of AA by Team Aketi for instance, some candidates of AA are people with strategic appointments in Ondo State government led by Governor Akeredolu”
The APC leaders also condemned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for contravening the extant regulations by recognising AA candidates when the party failed to observe or conduct any primaries for the emergence of the party’s standard-bearer.
The leaders and elders of the Ondo chapter of APC however, said the party would commence the door to door campaign for President Muhammadu Buhari and his deputy, Prof Yemi Osinbajo today (Friday) to ensure their re-election.
The communiqué read on behalf of the elders by Olanusi said the alleged move by the state executive council led by Ade Adetimehin to compile names of party agents for the party would be resisted by the elders of the party.
“We state with all sense of responsibility, that since the current Ade Adetimehin led executive if not adding value to the fortunes of Ondo APC, its dissolution cannot have any adverse effect on the performance of the APC in the state, the dissolution should pave way for a Caretaker Committee that will utilize the remaining period between now and the elections to reposition the party for optimal success.
“The meeting appealed to all APC members, supporters and the generality of the Ondo State people to shun any negative campaigns to avoid being used as canon folders.”
However, the Commissioner of Information, Mr Yemi Olowolabi had stated that Akeredolu was not romancing or funding AA against APC.
Olowolabi said it would amount to anti-party on the party of the governor to be working at cross purpose with his party and maintained that Akeredolu was not working or funding AA any other opposition political parties aside APC.
Olowolabi advised the elders and members of the party not to see or mix the governor’s personal relationship and friendship with friendship, saying the governor remained a committed member and leader of APC who has been working g towards the return of President Buhari and Vice President Osibajo
Some of the leaders at the meeting included; former Chairman of the party, Hon Isaacs Kekemeke, former Chairman of Alliance for Democracy (AD), Chief Makinde Oguntona and former Commissioner, Chief Bode Sunmonu among others.
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