Free, fair guber primary key to APC’s success in Ondo, says Akeredolu

Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has stressed the need for transparent primaries for the party’s success in the gubernatorial election holding this November in the state.

While noting that primaries are essential aspect of party politics, Akeredolu, in a statement, explained that when primaries are held, aspirants were more likely to accept the collective decision of the party, thereby reducing the tendency for disunity and invariably increasing chances of success at the poll.

According to the 2012 governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN) in the state, “when we have primaries, all the aspirants will fall in line. By the time we obtain forms, I am sure that the number of aspirants will reduce. Even with five or more aspirants, we can agree among ourselves that whosoever wins, the others will support. I have always argued that primaries are essential part of party politics. It is necessary.”

He argued that he was chosen as the ACN flagbearer based on the existing party policy at the time, saying the party had since changed the policy in favour of party primaries.

“Well, a number of people reacted to it. People have also raised objections to it. I believe their objections and reactions have been taken into consideration in the decision of the party to conduct primaries”, he said.