By Allen Sowore, Esq.
The lead-up to the ruling All Progressives Congress Governorship primary election is gaining momentum in Ondo state. Last week, the vetting Committee, chaired by the National Legal Adviser of the party, Professor Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana, scrutinized the nomination forms and supporting documents of all the aspirants. They certified 16 contestants for the party’s shadow election scheduled for April 20th.
Additionally, the Joshua Lidani-led seven-member screening committee granted all 16 aspirants approval to contest the partyās governorship primary election.
In light of the aforementioned points, it is crucial and incumbent upon us to provide an objective, critical, and dialectical assessment of the various indicators pertaining to leading aspirants. This is essential to alleviate the burden on staunch followers and prepare them for the ultimate outcome.
Among those who passed the APC compulsory screening are the incumbent governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Chief Olusola Oke, Mayowa Akinfolarin, Isaac Kekemeke, Wale Akinterinwa, Olugbenga Edema, Jimoh Ibrahim, Jimi Odimayo, Diran Iyantan, Soji Ehinlanwo, Morayo Lebi, Dr. Olamide Ohunyeye, and Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele. The two female aspirants, Mrs. Funmi Waheed Adekojo and Engr. Funke Judith, also sailed through the screening.
Going forward, the party embarked on the membership revalidation exercise. At the conclusion of the membership revalidation exercise, out of a total of 172,197 members, 172,025 were successfully revalidated.
According to the party guidelines, only members listed on the membership register as of 2021, who participated in the revalidation exercise and have paid their annual dues up to date, will be eligible to vote during the primary election.
This requirement may have prompted some aspirants to assist members who support their cause in offsetting their accumulated annual dues to enable them to participate in the Saturday election.
Notably, data from the national Secretariat of the party shows that the governor paid the annual dues for about 110,000 party members. Ibrahim Jimoh covered dues for 40,000 members, while Chief Olusola Oke covered only 20,000 members.
Consequently, the incumbent governor, Mr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, leads significantly in terms of the number of members committed to his emergence as the party’s flag bearer, based on the figures obtained so far.
The implication of the above is that the governor will have a considerable advantage even if only fifty percent of the committed members he paid for vote for him on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the governor’s camp received a boost during the ongoing local government areas tour when Honourable Ife Ehindero, a member of the House of Representatives representing Akoko Northeast/Northwest Federal Constituency, joined the campaign train.
Similarly, on April 17th, Honourable Timilehin Adelegbe, another member of the House of Representatives representing Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, issued a statement through Engr. Gbalajobi B. J. announcing the collapse of their structure into the O’datiwa group, following the directives of the National leaders to support the successful transition of the incumbent Governor, HE Lucky Ayedatiwa.
Earlier endorsements for Lucky Aiyedatiwa came from a multitude of critical stakeholders, including the “Party Aboriginal Group.”
With overwhelming support from across the 18 local government areas of the state, it’s evident that Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa is the leading aspirant among the 16 cleared to participate in the Saturday party primary election.
This resonates with the popular Yoruba adage, “Esin Tosiwaju ni yo gba ife.” The leading horse will take the trophy.
Peoplesmind
