Aiyedatiwa Okays Direct Primaries If APC Consensus Fails In Ondo

Ondo State governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has expressed support for the adoption of direct primaries by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in cases where consensus candidates fail to emerge ahead of the party’s forthcoming primaries.

The governor said the position was in line with the directive of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC for the conduct of the primaries scheduled for May 15, 18 and 20 for the House of Representatives, House of Assembly and Senate, respectively.

In a statement issued by the commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, the governor urged party members, aspirants and supporters to conduct themselves peacefully and responsibly during the exercise.

According to the statement, the governor aligned with the directive of the APC national leadership to adopt direct primaries in areas where no consensus candidate has been reached among stakeholders.

The governor stressed that Ondo State must continue to serve as a model of political maturity and democratic excellence through the conduct of party members before, during and after the primaries.

He added that the state chapter of the APC was committed to adhering strictly to the party’s national leadership’s guidelines and internal democratic principles.

The statement reads in part, “The Ondo State government is fully aligned with the directive of the National Working Committee of the APC that direct primaries should be adopted in situations where there is no agreed consensus candidate.

“The state chapter of the party remains committed to abiding by the guidelines and internal democratic principles laid down by the national leadership of the APC.”

‎Ondo State must continue to remain a model of political maturity and democratic excellence through the conduct of party members before, during and after the primaries.”

‎The statement also emphasised the need for unity, discipline and peaceful coexistence among party faithful, saying such virtues would further strengthen the APC as one political family.

‎The government appealed to aspirants and stakeholders to place the interest of the party and the state above personal ambition, while urging security agencies, electoral officials and party members to cooperate fully to ensure a credible and hitch-free exercise across the state.