The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has declared that the presidency or any party machinery neither interfered with nor influenced the outcome of last Saturday’s Ondo governorship election, which its candidate, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, won.
Ganduje stated this when the governor-elect and his deputy, Dr Olayide Adelami, paid a thank-you visit to the APC national secretariat, Abuja, on Wednesday shortly after they collected their certificates of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The APC national chairman said the party’s candidates’ victory was based on the popular vote by the Ondo people, who have always supported the party through thick and thin.
He attributed Aiyedatiwa’s victory to the unity of purpose and harmonious relationship among all the party chieftains in the state and the resolve of the Ondo people to always keep faith with the APC.
“There is no underground support from any quarters. No external influence from the government, the presidency or any other external forces. The election is not the effort of the elites alone. It is not the effort of the middle class alone; it is the effort of the grassroots.
“This must be an issue that was embraced by all. You enjoyed the support of the electorates in the state. We have to congratulate you on this landslide victory. I know Ondo people are progressives so they will cooperate with you,” Ganduje said.
Earlier in his remarks, Aiyedatiwa linked APC victories in Ondo and Edo states to Ganduje’s political acumen, strategic planning and mobilisation.
He expressed gratitude to the party and Ondo people for their overwhelming support of him at the polls and hoped that APC would sweep the neighbouring states of Osun and Oyo in future elections.
He said: “I cannot but come here to appreciate the platform that allowed me to run the race. Come here to stop over to thank you. It’s not a case of being disrespectful not to present my certificate of return to you but to wait for the return of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The people of Ondo state knew who they wanted and voted for integrity, continuity, and exemplary leadership, which we represent with the renewed hope agenda of Mr. President.
“That was what happened when we attained a feat never achieved before. We won in every local government in the state. With the election, the Ondo people spoke clearly and loudly that they voted for APC, which I represented.
“We served within the last 10 months, and people have seen the way to go. We made promises, and with the massive votes the people gave us, they have burdened us to do more than we did in the last 10 months. After we end our service, the APC will take over from us again to ensure the name of our party will be intact.”
