Aiyedatiwa and other guber aspirants have also started lobbying party members for votes following the development
By Kehinde Okeowo,
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa and other All Progressives Party’s gubernatorial aspirants in the state are expected to face direct primary as they aspire to become the standard-bearer of the party.
This is because the ruling party has decided it would adopt the direct mode of primaries in electing the candidate that will fly its flag during the November 16 gubernatorial polls in the state.
This was revealed by the party in a letter sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), where it notified the electoral body of its April 20 primaries.
The letter sent to INEC was jointly signed by the National Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Ganduje, and the National Secretary, Sen. Ajibola Basiru.
ALSO READ: Ondo Guber: APC leaders endorse Aiyedatiwa
Senegal’s Faye appoints old political ally, Sonko new prime minister
Also confirming the development, the Deputy National Organising Secretary of the party and former House of Representatives member, Nze Duru, told journalists that the party has settled for direct primary.
He said: “We are using the direct primary mode of election for the Ondo State governorship primary election.
“This decision has equally been conveyed in a letter duly signed by the National Chairman and the National Secretary to INEC that the party has adopted the direct mode of election for the Ondo State governorship election.”
Following the development, the aspirants have begun intense lobbying of party members to support their bids to clinch the party’s ticket.
Aiyedatiwa, who was the Deputy Governor of the state later became the first citizen of the state after the demise of his principal, Gov Rotimi Akeredolu.
He subsequently declared his intention to continue in the position after he was sworn in by the state’s Chief Judge.