By EMMANUEL MOGBEDE

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has promised to conduct a free, fair and transparent primary election to choose its candidate for the Nov. 11 governorship election in the state.

The party’s Deputy National Organising Secretary, Mr Nze Duru, gave the assurance on Saturday in Abuja as the party drew the curtain on the submission of Expression of Interest and Nomination forms by aspirants.

“We assure aspirants that the party is interested and desirous of conducting a free, fair transparent primary election in Ondo State,’’ he said.

The primary election Is scheduled to hold on April 20 to select a standard bearer from among 16 party members that have showed interest in the race.

“Saturday, April 6 marks the formal closure of the first step of electing the person that will fly the party’s flag at the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State.

“The next exercise will be the screening of aspirants on April 11 and April 12 and after that, the primary election will hold,’’ he said.

Duru said also that aspirants would be formed into groups for the screening to ensure a smooth process.

He enjoined all aspirants to extend a hand of felicitation to whoever emerged as the party’s candidate as was done in Edo.

He explained that Edo had become a reference point in the party’s free process of choosing its candidates as even those not comfortable with the outcome came together to broker peace among party members.

“They came to the negotiation table; had a handshake and now we have a very formidable team; and we believe that APC will win in Edo.

“If we trust that APC will win in Edo, we have confidence that it will win in Ondo State,’’ Duru emphasised.

Those in the governorship race are the incumbent governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiewa, Ms Funmilayo Waheed-Adekojo, Mr ⁠Olusoji Ehinlanwo, Mr John Odimayo, Mr Jimoh Folorunsho, Mr Duerimini Kekemeke and Mr Samuel Akinfolarin, and Mr Adewale Akinterinwa.

Others are Mr Olugbenga Edema, Chief Olusola Oke, Mr Felix Onwuyeye, Mr Morayo Lebi, Mr Diran Iyantan, Prof. Francis Faduyile, Ms Judith Omogoroye and Mr Ifeoluwa Oyedele.

Oyedele was the last of the aspirants to submit his Expression of Interest and Nomination forms.

He said on Saturday while submitting the forms that Ondo State needed a leader with vision and capacity to lead it to the next level, and stressed that he was the candidate to do that.

“I am not new to this process. In 2020, I was the front runner against the late governor of Ondo State, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu.

“Following persuasions from party leaders, I willingly and unconditionally stepped down for Akeredolu to ensure that the party was not disunited.

“And for the first time in the history of party politics, all the aspirants rallied behind Akeredolu at the election that took place on Oct. 10, 2020 and the APC won,’’ Oyedele said.

He added that having sacrificed for the party over the years, and as one of its founding fathers, he was the most qualified aspirant because he had the vision and capacity to lead the state.

He said also that Ondo State needed a governor to change its poor narrative in healthcare delivery and education and he was the ideal man. (NAN)

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