Politics

Ondo guber primaries: APC Aborigines to pick aspirant next week

Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Aborigines again converged on Akure, the state capital, on Thursday to evaluate and screen governorship aspirants of the party ahead of the April 25 party primary.

The leaders of the group also received the reports of the nine-man committee headed by Hon. Christy Olufowose, tasked with the responsibility of picking a credible candidate for the party.

It was gathered that the committee presented three of the aspirants to the leaders of the group, with the incumbent governor among the three aspirants picked and submitted by the committee.

However, leaders of the Ondo APC Aborigines, led by Sola Iji, said members of the group will, by next week, come out with a position after scrutinising the aspirants presented to them.

Speaking on behalf of the group, former Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Togo, Ambassador Sola Iji, said the name of the top candidate would be released next week.

Iji said the group had resolved to carefully pick one of the aspirants to ensure the emergence of a credible candidate for the APC and not of strangers, not known to party members.

According to him, “We have received the report of the nine-man committee headed by Olufowose. The report contains some recommendations that we, the leaders, will deliberate on, and we will return to make a final decision on our preferred aspirant.

“We are interested in working for a preferred aspirant who will be a party man. The elders will look at the recommendations. What should interest the people is the candidate who will be acceptable.

“The Committee has identified the aspirants. The House has accepted the report of the Committee with some amendments. At the next meeting, we should be able to name the aspirant we are supporting.

“Consequent upon the submission of the report of the nine-man committee set up to recommend three topmost governorship aspirants.

“The group mandated the leadership of the committee to deliberate and make further consultation in order to arrive at the choice of a preferred aspirant.

“The group further reiterates their decision to jointly work for the candidate of our choice while jettisoning individual preferences.”

The second meeting of Foundational Associates in APC Ondo State was held on Thursday, March 14, 2024.

The meeting, which was held at the Ijapo Royal Bird Hotel, was presided over by former Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Togo, H.E. Ambassador Sola Iji, who was the former Chairman of AD, AC, and ACN successively.

At the meeting were former Deputy Leader of the 9th Senate and three-term Senator, Professor Ajayi Borrofice; Barr. Jumoke Anifowose, a party leader and former state chairman of ACN; Chief Tokunbo Ajasin; Dr. Taiwo Malumi; former Commissioner and party leader, Hon. Bola Ilori; and Hon. Wumi Ohwovoriole, a former Commissioner and two-term member of the House of Assembly in Lagos State, among others.

ALSO READ THESE TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE