By Damilola Balogun
In less than 48 hours, the Governorship primary election of the APC [All Progressive Congress] in Ondo State will be conducted, as announced by the chairman of the Primary Election Committee for Ondo State, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State. The incumbent Governor of Ondo State, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu is in the race alongside eleven other aspirants in the All Progressive Party with the aim of emerging as the Party’s Candidate so as to contest in the forthcoming Ondo gubernatorial election with the goal of securing a second term in office.
Besides, out of the 12 Aspirants that was cleared for the polls, only Governor Rotimi Akeredolu was of the idea that be it direct or indirect primary mode of election, he will surely win while the other eleven Aspirants ventured for direct primary mode of election. Adoption of indirect mode of primary election is a subversion of the Party’s constitution as quoted by one of the eleven aspirants, Chief Olusola Oke, that kicked against adoption of indirect primary mode of election.
As annnounced few days ago by the chairman of the Primary Election Committee, the Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State that the Party has adopted the indirect primary mode of election for Ondo gubernatorial Primary Election. This has to do with a saying that states “Man proposes but God dispose”. He however said that the aspirants are to think of whatever decision or primary mode of election they want for themselves but they don’t make the decision for whichever primary mode of election to be observed.
Meanwhile, the indirect primary mode of election for Ondo gubernatorial Primary Election seems to be in favour of the incumbent Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu. But the big question here is; Could Governor Akeredolu win Ondo State APC Governorship Primary Election.
However, reports indicates that Governor Rotimi Akeredolu seems to be the favoured candidate of the presidency ahead of the APC Governorship Primary Election in Ondo State.
In addition, aside from the Presidency’s support, the incumbent Governor of Ondo State is said to enjoy the support of his colleagues on the Progressive Governor’s Forum [PGF] chaired, by the Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu.
Alot of criticism has been made towards the incumbent Governor of Ondo State emerging as the party’s candidate in the forthcoming Governorship Election due to the poor administration of the Ondo State Government in recent times. About few weeks back, the resident doctors at University of Medical Science Teaching Hospital Complexes [UNIMEDTHC] in Akure and nurses under the National Association of Nigeria nurses and midwives, embarked on an indefinite strike to protect the alleged uncaring attitude of the Ondo State Government. The health workers accused the State Government of being insensitive to their welfare and non provision of Personal Protection Equipment [PPE]. Most of the members of the resident doctors of UNIMEDTHC disclosed that they have been owed salaries from last year till may. The Doctors lamented that it has become a recurred situation for them to go on protest before they would be paid their salaries. Obviously, after days of strike by the resident doctors, Governor Akeredolu had meeting with the NMA and everything was resolved which he promised to pay thier salaries within a stipulated time.
It shows that despite the unflinching efforts of the incumbent Governor of Ondo State in securing his place as the Party’s candidate ahead the October 10 Governorship Election in the State, some unforseen forces regarding his administration are bent on working against him from achieving his goal.
It could be recalled that Governor Fayemi of Ekiti led the incumbent Governor of Ondo State sometimes in the month of May to end his rift with the National Leader of the All Progressive Congress [APC], Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. However, the mission was said not to be successful as they were enable to secure the commitment of the APC National Leader. Meanwhile, as chieftain of the Party Rotimi Fasakin said it wasn’t true that Tinubu didn’t support Akeredolu. He stated that what the APC Leader said was that he would support any aspirant that emerged as the Party’s Candidate.
One of the greatest of all in terms of the challenges, perhaps threats to Akeredolu securing the second term bid by emerging as the party’s candidate are his opponent. The likes of Olusola Oke, Kekemeke, Ajayi Boroffice, Jimi Odimayo, Oyedele and others are notable people in the state. However, Jimi Odimayo who happens to be one of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s biggest sponsors for the 2016 election is one of those who stands up to challenge him as emerging as the party’s candidate in the forthcoming Ondo State Governorship Gubernatorial Election.
In a statement made by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who predicted his victory at the poll, relied on his performance in his first four years in office. He is sure of victory both at the All Progressive Congress [APC] Party primaries and at the main election. Whether the incumbent Governor of Ondo State, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu will emerge as the party’s candidate or not willl be decided in less than 48 hours, in which, the indirect primary mode of election for the Ondo State All Progressive Congress [APC] primary election will be conducted on Monday, 20th of July, 2020.
Besides the Ondo election is of two clans, one is for the incumbent Governor, and the other is for the re-election bid.