Gov Akeredolu Wins Ondo APC Primary |The Source

By Ayodele Oni, Akure

After months of brickbats, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has been declared winner of the Ondo state All Progressives Congress,  (APC) Governorship Primary.

He coasted home to victory with a wide margin, after defeating seven other aspirants that slugged out the ticket with him.

Eleven aspirants obtained APC Expression of Interest form to contest the primary and all of them were cleared by the committee charged with their screening in Abuja.

However, few hours to the commencement of the exercise in Akure, four out of the 11 Aspirants contesting against the Governor   stepped down for him.

They are: Dr. Segun Abraham, a friend of the national leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Jimi Odinmayo described as the youngest among the aspirants, Dr. Nathaniel Adojutelegan and Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele.

Announcing the results early this morning, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state, who is the chairman of the election committee said Akeredolu won in all the 18 local governments and had a total score of 2458 votes to emerge winner.

His closest rival, Olusola Oke, SAN, polled 262 votes. Invalid votes: 33, Ifeoluwa Oyedele, one vote, Adelami four, Jumoke Anifowose, two, Nathaniel, four, Owoniyi, one, Kekemeke, 19, and Okejimi-no vote. Total number if votes cast, 3016.

The election had earlier been greeted with scepticism by some of the aspirants who described it as a mere charade.

Mr Isaac Kekemeke said he has totally lost confidence in the process that led to the indirect primaries that produced the candidate of the party ahead of the Governorship election.

According to him, the committee led by Governor Yayaha Bello was not fair to many of the governorship aspirants.

“I got the list of delegates for the primaries by11.30pm on Sunday; this is totally unfair. The party is taking us for granted.

“We paid to contest in this primaries, they should not treat us like animals. This is not only unfair but a slap on the aspirants.”

Dr Segun Abraham, who stepped down for Governor Akeredolu said it was in line with the decision of the party.

“This decision was made in support of the candidacy of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, after much consultation across and within party lines.”

Akeredolu will now face  the winner of the PDP candidate, and those of other fringe parties during the Governorship election slated for October.