Ganduje promises credible primaries
Ahead of the Ondo State governorship primaries, 13 out of the 22 All Progressives Congress (APC) members of the state’s House of Assembly have endorsed the resolve by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to retain the state.
The lawmakers, who barred their minds at a parley with the Abdullahi Umar Ganduje-led National Working Committee (NWC) in Abuja, said their position was aimed at ensuring continuity in governance of the state.
Speaker of the House, Olamide Oladiji, who spoke on their behalf, cited the resolve by Aiyedatiwa to continue with the legacies of the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu as basis for their support.
They also adduced to the payment of their salaries as at when due, the recruitment of 2,000 health workers, as well as cordial relationship between the legislature, judiciary and the executive arms of government in the state as reasons for their endorsement of the continuous stay of Aiyedatiwa in power.
“We wish to inform you that Ondo State is peaceful. Let me give you assurance that come April 2024, our primary election will be peaceful. We believe in continuity and unity of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government. We don’t want any other political party to snatch this power from us,” the Speaker said.
Oladiji expressed appreciation to the Ganduje-led NWC and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for their timely intervention in the crisis that rocked the party in the state before and after the demise of Akeredolu.
Meanwhile, Ganduje, who recalled how he, alongside President Tinubu, waded in to restore sanity in Ondo State, thanked the lawmakers for the role they played in the resolution of the crisis amicably.
He assured the lawmakers that the APC would provide a level playing field for all governorship aspirants of the party.
He said: “We can’t disconnect legislators from the office of the party here in Abuja because there is always a relationship between you and the office. I call upon you to cooperate with us as we conduct the primary election.
“In this year’s election in Ondo, there are many things that must happen according to our programme, starting with verification of membership, screening of aspirants, purchase of expression of interest and nomination forms, and the primaries to pick candidates.”
“Ondo State is an APC state and will continue to maintain it. We need your cooperation to conduct free and transparent primaries. We believe our members are equal to the task. What we are seeing here is that there would be cooperation, good synergy with state Assembly members.
We have planned a well articulated programme for primaries to produce a candidate.”
