Four governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress [APC] in Ondo State have distanced themselves from a plan by Akoko Elders Assembly [AEA], to produce a consensus candidate ahead of the November 26, governorship election.
The elders were said to have met on April 29, 2016 at one Pa. Aiyegbus’s house and gave an ultimatum to all APC aspirants from Akoko to present a consensus candidate or they impose a candidate on them.
But in a statement jointly signed by the aspirants, who are Senator Ajayi Boroffice, Former State Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Victor Olabimtan, Dr. Tunji Abayomi and a former House of Representatives lawmaker, Hon, Ganny Dauda, they described the meeting as unconstitutional.
They said the constitution of APC only recognize two ways through which candidates can emerge, stressing that it is either by inside party election duly held through relevant congress/primaries or by consensus of aspirants.
The aggrieved aspirants noted that the National Executive Committee [NEC], under section 20 of APC constitution empowered to provide the guideline for the conduct of congresses at an appropriate time.
They, however, said any other means of raising a candidate of such is not only illegal but outrightly unconstitutional, adding that their meeting can neither be respected nor regarded by any serious aspirant.
They said since the elders held the meeting, there have been divisions in APC in Akokoland.
The aspirants revealed that all Akoko aspirants had early this year met and encouraged dialogue among the aspirants with the aim of achieving consensus candidate but against the idea of the elders on imposition of candidate.
They pointed out that all Akoko meeting presided over by the former deputy governor, Alhaji Alli Olanusi was actually the first major step taken towards the said dialogue for a consensus governorship candidate.
They statement reads, “we the major aspirants who have endorsed this document will only recognize in the interest of Akoko unity, a meeting presided over by Olanusi, who is a member of APC BOT as authentic Akoko leaders meeting.
“We recognize Baba Olanusi as the leader of APC in Akoko outside the aspirants for reasons of objectivity, wisdom, integrity and status as Deputy Governor and APC BOT member.
“We also need to state affirmatively that we will not recognize or accept the decision taken at the Baba Aiyegbusi’s meeting as the meeting has potential to cause serious and dangerous disunity in Akoko .
“It is terribly subjective considering that many of the so called elders at that meeting are already in the campaign team of at least one candidate. In fact, they go from location with a particular candidate and in doing so alter their objectivity and impartiality.”
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