The ambition of Senator Ajayi Boroffice to become the flag bearer of All Progressive Congress, APC, in next year’s gubernatorial election in Ondo State at the weekend suffered a set back as prominent party leaders shunned a meeting initiated by the senator at the party secretariat in Akure, the state capital.
Sources in the party authoritatively told DAILY POST that the meeting was where the senator initially planned to officially announce his ambition to the party leader.
But, the it was gathered that the State Chairman, Isaac Kekemeke and some notable leaders of the party deliberately avoided the meeting with Boroffice
It was learnt that some factions of the party including Kekemeke were still aggrieved over the role played by the senator in the emergence of Prof. Claudius Daramola as Minister for State for Niger Delta.
Kekemeke, who was among those who lobbied for the ministerial slot was said to have been pushing for the candidature of the House of Representatives member representing Owo/Ose federal constituency, Hon. Bode Ayorinde against the senator.
However, the State deputy chairman, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, who is a staunch supporter of the former defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu SAN, received Boroffice at the party secretariat.
A source said: “Most of the people present at the meeting were aides of the senator. Many leaders that were supposed to welcome him with fanfare decided to shun the meeting.
“Some of the leaders who were opposed to the the intention of Boroffice to contest the governorship election on the ticket of the party were the ones that deliberately boycotted the meeting.”
Boroffice had earlier met with ward and local government executive committee members in Akure South and Akure North, where he was said to have carpeted the senator representing Ondo Central, Tayo Alasoadura, for supporting Senate President Bukola Saraki.
It was learnt that this was one the reasons for the absence of some of the leaders, particularly those in the Akure South and Akure North.
However, the APC Director of Media and Publicity, Steve Otaloro, denied that the party leaders deliberately boycotted the meeting, explaining that the chairman and some other leaders were out of town to attend an event organised by a federal lawmaker of the party .
“It is not true that the leaders shunned the meeting with Senator Boroffice. The chairman and some other leaders went to Idanre to attend the commissioning of some projects done by Hon. Bamidele Baderinwa, not that they were deliberately absent at the meeting,” Otaloro said.
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