.. As Leading Aspirants Intensify Lobby in Abuja
Ahead of the forthcoming governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state, a reliable source has revealed that President Bola Tinubu would soon engage stakeholders in the party towards achieving a rancor free exercise.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed the governorship primaries for all the parties for the month of April to pick their candidates for the November 16 governorship election.
No fewer than 10 aspirants who include Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa; Chief Olusola Oke; former Commissioner for Finance Mr. Wale Akinterinwa; Dr Paul Akintelure and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim are vying for the APC ticket.
Others are former House of Representatives lawmaker, Honourable Mayowa Akinfolarin; APC Southwest Chairman, Honourable Isaacs Kekemeke; Olamide Ohunyeye, Honourable Jimi Odimayo; Honourable Gbenga Edema, and several others
A credible source informed this medium that the leadership of the APC is working to ensure that the APC primaries produce a candidate that is popular and will unite the party and guarantee victory for the party.
It was gathered that the engagement of the president with party stakeholders may hold not later than the first week of April to set the tune for the primaries.
According to investigations, the presidency will have so much interest in who emerges as the party’s flagbearer and everything is being done to carry out research on the aspirants.
It was also revealed that among the aspirants, a series of factors are being considered towards the preferred aspirants by the presidency.
Even though the APC National Working Committee (NWC) is putting finishing touches to roll out schedule of activities and timetable leading to the governorship primaries later in April.
A source informed RAYO POST that about five of the leading aspirants have taken their lobby to Abuja to persuade and secure the endorsement of the power brokers, especially the presidency.
It was learned that some of the aspirants are lobbying the Umar Ganduje-led NWC, the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila ; Ministers, former governor of Osun state and Tinubu’s close ally , Chief Bisi Akande and the Progressives Governors Forum under the leadership of Imo state governor, Hope Uzodinma.
A close source to one of the leading aspirants said that all leaders and stakeholders engaged by his principal in Abuja , deferred any form of endorsement until the president gives final signal on who will emerge as the APC candidate in Ondo state.
The source said, “ You know Ondo state is in the South West where the president comes from and I can tell you that President Tinubu will be involved.
“ If you observe , you will see that many of the leading aspirants are aware of this and they are concentrating more in their lobby in Abuja than talking or spending for the delegates.
“ The few ones you see meeting party stakeholders in the state are doing it for so many reasons that you will get to see in the coming weeks.
“ The April meeting by the president and other stakeholders will definitely show the way on who will likely emerge.
“ Let me quickly add that, nothing is ruled out at the moment and don’t be surprised if a dark horse is favored among the aspirants. The cards are on the table and all the leading aspirants are being accessed at the moment by a team commissioned by the power brokers in Abuja.”
According to a document on social media, the APC primary was reportedly scheduled for April 25 but the NWC is yet to officially announce the date and other activities leading to the governorship primary.
