By Julius Alabi, Akure
More trouble awaits the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state as its chieftain who is also an aspirant for the Ondo North Senatorial seat, Dr Tunji Abayomi, has vowed to dump the platform for another if the alleged injustice done by the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole in the state is not corrected.
Abayomi is the preferred choice of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu for the Ondo North senatorial seat. But Prof Ajayi Borofice got the ticket to the chagrin of both Abayomi and his governor, Akeredolu who has been protesting the outcome of the senatorial primary.
Abayomi, while addressing newsmen at a press conference in Akure on Sunday, chided Oshiomhole over imposition of candidates for the 2019 election.
According to him, I will “challenge the illegality of the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole and the National Working Committee, NWC, for substituting my name with that of Prof Ajayi Borofice who did not ‘participate’ in the party’s primary.”
His words: “A candidate according to the constitution means any person who has been nominated at a primary or party election to contest at a general election.
“In section 20 of the APC constitution, nomination of candidates for Senate shall be through direct or indirect primary election to be conducted at the appropriate level,” he said.
He noted that no option is given to APC Chairman or NWC to force any direct primary on any state, adding that it is not like a pool that can be fixed.
His went on: “Where lies NWC’s power to screen out constitutionally qualified aspirants, so that their preferred aspirants will have automatic ticket? Which constitution gave them power to create unfairness among equally situated aspirants?”
He recalled that the party published a schedule Time Table on September 4, 2018 in which Senatorial aspirant was required to pay N7 million to purchase Nomination forms. He said he met the condition on the hope that the process will be fair and free of undue influence.
He called on the party’s leadership to, as a matter of urgency, right the wrongs in the selection of candidates in Ondo state to avert more crisis.
He insisted that he remains the authentic candidate of the party having participated and won the primaries conducted by the party.
“I am the authentic candidate and they have failed to pick me, in violation of my right. Therefore, I will run for senate, but I might run on a different political platform in order to protect the right of the people,” he said.
With regard to the closure of candidature, we have up to November 17 for substitution. If I now decide to run on a different political platform, that I will let you know. I will come back to you, you are my friends, you should all know my decision. I will still see you again on this issue, certainly, before November 17.”
While saying he was in ‘serious pain’, Abayomi noted that he had protested to governor Akeredolu the action of Oshiomhole, and vowed not to relent in demanding ‘immediate remedy’ that conforms with the constitution of Nigeria and that of the APC.
“In Ondo north senatorial zone, I am the only candidate. And since Adams Oshiomhole has pushed in a sole candidate, contrary to the will, approbation and wish of our people, it means that there is no candidate as at now before INEC. Certainly, there is no legitimate candidate, there is no candidate under law. So I’m still authentically, legitimately, and I will remain in APC until I come back to see you again. So that is my position”, he added.
