Ganduje said the Ondo governorship aspirants should not see themselves as losers, because there is always a second chance.
By Jeffrey Agbo
National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, on Thursday met those who contested for the party’s governorship ticket on April 20 in Ondo State.
Ganduje appealed to them to join forces and work for the party’s victory in the forthcoming November 16 governorship election.
The aspirants met with members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) at the instance of Ganduje.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the incumbent governor, was declared winner of the election.
He emerged winner after polling 48,569 votes to beat his closest rival Mayowa Akinfolarin, who polled 15,343 votes, while Olusola Oke came third with 14,865 votes.
The APC governorship primary election was contested by 16 aspirants.
“The purpose of this meeting is to appeal to us all not to dwell on what happened during the primary, or what is correct or what is not,” said Ganduje.
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“Dwelling on that will lead to paralysis and the controversy will not favour us considering the galaxy of politicians here, because I know we have lawyers, engineers and other professionals here.
“We are mere stakeholders, but the the state belongs to you all and I know that our desire is for our party to continue to be a ruling party in Ondo State.”
He added that the meeting was to appeal to the aspirants to work with the party and its candidate to ensure it retained its position as the ruling party in the state.
Ganduje said the Ondo governorship aspirants should not see themselves as losers, because there is always a second chance.
He recalled how he first contested election in 1999 and lost, but had to recontest 16 years later to become governor of Kano State.
“You are not lost aspirants, but aspirants that will be successful next time,” the APC national chairman said.
The meeting which went into a closed-door session after Ganduje’s opening remarks had in attendance Olusoji Ehinlanwo; a former member of the State House of Assembly, Olugbenga Edema; and business magnate, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim.
Other aspirants in attendance were Mrs Judith Omogoroye, Maj.- Gen. Felix Ohunyeye (rtd), Jimi Odimayo, Morayo Lebi, Diran Iyantan and Ifeoluwa Oyedele.
Also, Funmilayo Waheed-Adekojo, Mayowa Akinfolarin, former Commissioner for Finance, Adewale Akinterinwa; Olusola Oke and Prof. Francis Faduyile were present.
