Akeredolu says APC’ll overcome crisis, youths knock Oyegun

 The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has assured members of the party that the current challenges facing the party would soon be over.

He also expressed the assurance that the party would defeat the Peoples Democratic Party and all other parties that would be contesting the November 26, 2016 governorship election in the state.

Akeredolu stated this while addressing members and supporters of the APC at the party’s state secretariat on Oyemekun Road, Akure, the state capital, on Monday.

Akeredolu, a former President of the Nigeria Bar Association, was declared the winner of the primary of the APC held in Akure, on September 3, 2016.

Though the Electoral Appeal Committee of the party had recommended cancellation of the primary following petitions by three of the aspirants – Chief Olusola Oke, Senator Ajayi Boroffice and Dr. Segun Abraham – the National Working Committee of the party submitted Akeredolu’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission as the candidate of the party for the forthcoming election.

Addressing his supporters, the APC candidate said, “Whatever the challenges, we shall overcome without any fear because of our belief and trust in God. We have character and integrity to bring good governance to Ondo State.

“The Ondo State APC’s delegates, in their wisdom, voted for me to become the candidate of our great party and by the grace of God, the APC will win Ondo State in the governorship election.”

He commended the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, and members of the NWC of the party for their steadfastness during the struggle, saying “the ‘change’ has started in Ondo State.”

Meanwhile, some APC youth leaders across the state have expressed their displeasure over the alleged refusal of Odigie-Oyegun to implement the recommendation of the Electoral Appeal Committee of the party that the result of the primary that produced Akeredolu should be cancelled while another primary should be conducted.

This was contained in a communique signed by 13 out of the 18 APC youth leaders across the 18 local governments areas of the state after their meeting in Akure, on Monday.

At the meeting, which was presided over by the state Deputy Youth Leader, Mr. Saheed Lateef, the APC youths insisted that the September 3  primary was marred by irregularities, saying it was wrong for Odigie-Oyegun to have overruled the recommendation of the appeal committee which had nullified Akeredolu as the candidate.