Ganduje summons Aiyedatiwa, 15 guber aspirants over Ondo APC primary outrage

• Co-aspirants yet to congratulate governor
• Jimoh Ibrahim, five others seek cancellation of primary
• Forum of APC states chairmen backs Ganduje on continuous stay in office

Amid alleged irregularities trailing the conduct and outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary in Ondo State, the National Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Ganduje, will tomorrow meet with the 15 aspirants, who contested the ticket with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

According to findings by The Guardian, the meeting will be held at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja to pacify the aggrieved aspirants, who kicked against the shadow primary held on April 20.

The Publicity Secretary of the party in Ondo State, Alex Kalejaiye, confirmed the invitation, saying “It has been proposed. The state office is making efforts to persuade the aspirants to attend the meeting,” he added.

Sources within the APC said the aggrieved aspirants were reluctant to honour the invitation, as they were not willing to give up the struggle to upturn the election of Aiyedatiwa.

It was gathered that the invitation by the national secretariat is aimed at finding a way to pacify the aspirants to secure a united front for the party in the coming election.

When contacted, one of the aspirants, Olugbenga Edoema, confirmed the meeting, disclosing that the invitation was sent via a message.

The invite to the message read: “The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, sends you greetings and well wishes, especially at this trying period.

“The chairman is also kindly inviting all 16 aspirants who participated in the just concluded Ondo State gubernatorial primary for an important meeting. You are kindly advised to attend the meeting without fail.”

The primary that produced Aiyedatiwa as the standard bearer of the party ahead of the November governorship election had been met with alleged irregularities and discrepancies, with the aspirants calling for outright cancellation of the process.

No fewer than six aspirants have petitioned the Appeal Committee set up by the party for the primary. Meanwhile, none of the 15 other aspirants have congratulated Aiyedatiwa on his emergence as a candidate for the party.

The aspirants who petitioned the committee are Olugbenga Edema, Jimi Odimayo, Wale Akinterinwa, Folakemi Omogoroye and Jimoh Ibrahim. In their separate petitions, the aspirants alleged that no elections were held in the wards and that the committee did not comply with the guidelines for the election.

They also complained of a complete absence of voting materials for the election. They unanimously called for the cancellation of the primary election, and that a fresh date be fixed for another election that would be handled by a new committee.

It will be recalled that the Ahmed Ododo committee declared Aiyedatiwa as the winner of the primary amid protests by other aspirants. The aspirants alleged that there were no elections in all the 203 wards in the state.

Gov.Ayedatiwa

Aiyedatiwa scored 48,569 votes to beat 15 other aspirants to the coveted ticket. He was followed by Mayowa Akinfolarin, who polled 15,343 votes, and Olusola Oke, who garnered 14,915 votes.

Jimoh Ibrahim, the serving senator for Ondo South, polled 9,456 votes; Wale Akinterinwa, 1,952; Isaac Kekemeke, 1,045; Gbenga Edema, 395; Olamide Ohunyeye, 424; Jimi Odimayo, 490; Olusoji Ehinlanwo, 492; Morayo Lebi, 290; Diran Iyantan, 348; Francis Faduyile, 353; Ifeoluwa Oyedele, 462; Funmilayo Waheed-Adekojo, 529 and Funke Omogoroye, 115 votes.

Meanwhile, relief came the way of the embattled national chairman of the ruling APC following the resolve by the 36 states and FCT chairmen of the party to throw their weights behind his continued stay in office.

The forum led by Cornelius Ojelabi (Lagos chairman) made their position known on Tuesday while on a solidarity visit to Ganduje at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja.

The forum described those behind the purported suspension of Ganduje as impostors, who do not mean well for the party.

“We are here on a mission to let you know that you are the captain of the ship. With me here are also your foot soldiers in the 36 states and FCT,” he said.

“We are here to show our solidarity and sincere commitment to appreciate what NWC has been doing for the party. We will give you our total support.

“You have started a journey on restructuring and expanding our party. We are pretty sure you are on course. From what we are seeing, those behind the plot against you are not even members of our party. So, they cannot be allowed to derail our party.”

The chairman of the Bayelsa state chapter of the party, Dennis Otiotio told Ganduje to be rest assured that he would not be affected by what he termed “the judicial abracadabra” that led to the removal of his predecessor, Adams Oshiomhole from office.

Describing the attempt to unseat Ganduje by imposters as an impossible task, he called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to reprimand judges who make themselves willing tools in the hands of politicians to order.

“What they intend to do was a coup, thank God the coup has failed. We are solidly behind you anytime any day,” he added.

Ganduje, who accused the Governor Abba Yusuf-led Kano State government of masterminding the plot to unseat him, remarked that the development should not be seen as a surprising development given the domineering posture of the APC in the country.

He said: “The government in Kano is behind this drama. This is one kind of drama we call African Magic, which is not leading democracy anywhere. This is a new negative development whereby members belonging to a different political party, not even elected Exco members, are posing themselves as APC members and taking resolutions that could affect the nation. This is not acceptable.”