The Abdullahi Ganduje reconciliatory meeting to resolve aggrieved aspirants after its April 20 primary election in Ondo State had 15 out of the 16 aspirants present on Thursdays, April 25, 2024.
The meeting was held at the instances of All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman.
In his address while welcoming the aspirants, Ganduje urged them to put the past behind and work together in the general interest of the party.
It would be recall that the Alhaji Usman Ododo’s committee declared the incumbent governor of the state, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, winner of the shadow election, having polled 48,569 to beat other aspirants to the ticket.
Some of the aggrieved aspirants however petitioned the party over the outcome of the exercise.
APC chairman however affirmed that none of the aspirants are losers but potential winners.
“I lost first election and came back to win 16 years later to appease them.
“I have to thank you for honouring our invitation in the shortest time and also considering the emotional distress as a result of the primary conducted in few days.
“But equally, since we are all democrats, we are used to ups and downs of politics. So I have to thank you for honouring our invitation.
“The purpose of this meeting is to appeal, but not to dwell on what has happened or what has not happened, what is correct, or what is not correct. If we dwell on that, then it will lead to what we call; ‘too much analysis leads to paralysis.
“If we are to dwell on that, there are professors, amongst us, lawyers, some are engineers, even SAN. We who are less educated, the controversy will not cover us considering the galaxy of politicians who are here. So our own is to appeal to you.
“We in the party here are both insiders and outsiders. So when you say something is inside and also outside you have to think about that oxymoron. You have to think about that controversy.
“We are insiders because it is our party, that is a ruling party in Ondo state and we are the managers of our party in Nigeria. So we are an interested party even if it is a local government election. We are outsiders because this state belongs to you, this party belongs to you.
“I am sure your prayer is that our party, your party should be the ruling party in Ondo state. I think this is our common focus, our party should be the ruling party in Ondo state. It is already a ruling party our prayer is that it should continue to be a ruling party in Ondo State.
“ So you see, we are here to appeal to you so that we succeed in maintaining this state as APC state. I appeal to you, we are all practitioners in this game, in this politics, in this agenda. If you recall, I contested for governorship in 1999, I lost.
“I couldn’t become a governor until after 16 years. I was patient enough. I was praying and I eventually became a governor after 16 sixteen years. So I can’t call you that you are lost aspirants. You are aspirants that will be successful tomorrow” he said.
Earlier, there was a noticeable moment when aspirants were asked to introduce themselves, while Chief Olusola Oke referred to himself as a former aspirant, the Senator representing Ondo South senatorial district, Jimoh Ibrahim reacted “former?”
Introducing himself, Ibrahim in a gesture that further signaled his disapproval of the outcome of the election, said “I’m an aspirant, contesting this primary election.
As at the time of filing this report, the party leadership are in a closed door meeting with the aspirants as it is important they have a common front ahead of the November governorship election in the state.
Recall that 16 aspirants participated in the election which are the incumbent governor of the State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Hon. Mayowa Akinfolarin, Chief Olusola Oke, SAN, Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim, Mr. Wale Akinterinwa, Hon. Isaac D. Kekemeke, Hon. Gbenga Edema, Mr. Ohunyeye Olamide Felix, Hon. Olujimi Odimayo, Mr. Olusoji Ehinlanwo, Morayo Lebi, Prince Diran Iyantan, Prof. Francis Faduyile, Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele, Mrs. Funmilayo Waheed Adekojo and Engr. Funke Omogoroye