A frontline governorship aspirant on the platform of the ruling governing All Progressives Congress in Ondo State, Olusola Oke, has declared that it’s his turn to become the next governor of the state having contested thrice and lost. .
Mr Oke stated this on Monday while officially announcing his intention to vie the governorship ticket of the APC in the April primary poll.
Peoples Gazette reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission scheduled the primary election for political parties participating in the exercise for April 6 and 26.
However, the APC has yet to officially announce the date for its governorship primary ahead of the November 16 election.
Mr Oke spoke at the APC secretariat in Akure, saying his chances in the forthcoming governorship race were high like former President Muhammadu Buhari, who contested presidency thrice but won in the fourth attempt.
The APC aspirant said he was already prepared to be part of the solution to the problems confronting the state’s progress and development.
“I have come here to notify you of my intention to throw my hat again into the ring for the governorship seat of Ondo State on the platform of APC.
“I have contested this position three times. I lost, just like Buhari also did but this is my fourth time – it is my turn to be governor of the state. I have been part of denial and reason why I will be part of the solution. We can’t continue to do the same thing and expect the same results,” he said.
Noting that his experience made him stand out among other aspirants vying for the party’s ticket, Mr Oke said his candidacy would win the election for the APC.
He also pleaded with the leadership of the APC both at the state and national levels to give room for a transparent and credible primary in choosing the party’s candidate for the election.
According to him, the best candidate of the election will emerge if the party leadership allowed a transparent primary for aspirants jostling for the ticket
“So, we are now asking the leadership of the party to organise a free and fair primary. Once this is done, I know I will emerge and in any circumstances, I will remain a party man. If I am your candidate there will be no opposition in the state anymore. Once I pick the ticket, all roads will lead to APC for the election.
“And the supremacy of the party will be guaranteed under my administration because I will be facing governance of the state and the party would benefit from it too.”
Speaking, Chairman of the APC in the state, Ade Adetimehin, assured that the party would give room for a level-playing ground in the primary.
Mr Adetimehin, however, cautioned the aspirants jostling for the party’s ticket against campaign of calumny in the interest of peace.
“We will surely ensure a level-playing field for all aspirants in the primary and I want us to also make sure there is decorum while going about our campaigns,” he said.
The Gazette recalls that Mr Buhari contested the presidential race thrice; 2003, 2007, and 2011 but later won the poll in 2015.