The Chairman stated that the opposition party would conduct a free, fair and credible primary election for all political aspirants jostling for party's ticket ahead of the November 26 governorship election in the State.
Isaac Kemeke, the Ondo State Chairman of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), has announced that there is no room for the imposition of an "anointed candidate" in the party as the race to the November 26 gubernatorial election gathers momentum.
The Chairman stated that the opposition party would conduct a free, fair and credible primary election for all political aspirants jostling for party's ticket ahead of the November 26 governorship election in the State.
He vehemently told the party’s candidates to embark on field campaigns and shelved the idea of imposing a chosen candidate on the party's members and supporters.
Mr. Kememke said that the leadership of the party through the State Executive is willing to provide a free and level playing ground for all the candidates at a soon to be announced State primary election.
He stated that the opposition party is currently the only veritable platform that could produce the next governor of the State with the caliber of candidates contesting for the party's ticket ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial poll.
"The development has seen many genuine governorship aspirants trooping in to contest on the platform of the party as more and more people are joining the party in droves on regular basis,” Mr. Kekemeke said.
According to him, a formidable party like the APC is needed in the State to crush the incumbent government of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Governor Olusegun Mimiko.
A SaharaReporters investigation has revealed that there are at least forty-five candidates competing for the APC gubernatorial ticket, including Rotimi Akeredolu, Robert Ajayi Borrofice, Segun Abraham, Olusola Oke, Victor Olabimtan, Tayo Alasoadura, Steve Ayorinde, and Bukola Adetula.
Our correspondent in Akure reported that many of the aspirants have begun wooing the party's leadership through the State Working Executive with donations and gifts, such as cars and wristwatches.
Political observers in the party told SaharaReporters that the constant visitation of the gubernatorial candidates to the party's secretariat could be described as a show of "wealth and strength" in a bid to get the party's ticket for the race to the Alagbaka Government House in Akure.
"Any aspirant that visits the party for an official declaration to contest for the governorship poll donates something tangible, like heavy cash for the State Executive Council members and brand new Toyota vehicles for the party,” an observer stated.
"They now turned their visit to the party secretariat into a show of wealth and strength, donating millions of naira through checks and cash gifts in a flamboyant manner.”
The APC Chairman emphasized the need for unity in the party. He openly cautioned some of the candidates and their supporters against insulting other candidates on social media platforms.
Mr. Kemeke said such actions display indiscipline among members and advised the aspirants to campaign as team players regardless of who emerged as the party's candidate.
He stressed that the main goal of the party is to win the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the State and to liberate the people from the hands of the incumbent PDP government.
"In a football match, opposing teams do not deliberately injure themselves, more so as team players. We are all under the APC and our concern should be how to reach out to the suffering masses of Ondo State and spread the change mantra of the party that would liberate them from the squalor they are living in," Mr. Kemeke said.