Prove Ondo APC primary didn’t hold, Aiyedatiwa tells opponents

Ondo governor and winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary held for the November governorship polls, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has challenged those who claim that the election did not hold to show evidence backing up their position.

Speaking to correspondents on Thursday after attending the opening ceremony of an economic and financial Inclusion programme at the conference centre of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, he insisted that election held in the state.

According to him, those alleging that election did not hold are only indulging in hearsay because they could not have been everywhere at the same time.

Governor Aiyedatiwa, however, disclosed that he has started to reach out to those who contested with him to convince them of the need to go into the election with a united front.

On what he has done since emerging as the flag bearer of the ruling party in the November exercise, he said: “Yes, the election has come and gone. We are all winners; all the 16 aspirants; I’ll call them family members because it’s a family affair.

“We were just looking for a flag bearer among us and a flag bearer has emerged. And other members of the family, the aspirants, we have to work together. We’re already talking.

“The good thing is that I have relationship with every one of them. It’s not a case of not having a relationship; I can talk at will and when I call them on phone they pick one hand. So, there’s no form of grandstanding. It’s not a politics of calumny. So, we relate very well.

“Yes, in a contest like that, some may be having grudges with the way the system runs. The complaints we have from some of them are that the election was not totally free and fair, there were no election in some places, and all of that. You can only be in one place at a time.

“I went to my ward and I was counted and the election took place in my ward. I cannot speak of other wards. So, those who are complaining, it’s just hearsay. Election actually took place.

“So, if you’re complaining of some other irregularities, I don’t know. So, who alleges must prove. But in all, APC is our party; we must work together to ensure that we are victorious in the November election.“