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Ondo APC seeks elders’ support to resolve post-primary rancour

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The Ondo State APC is seeking support from party elders to resolve post-primary election disputes.
  • A reconciliation committee has been formed to address grievances among aspirants.
  • The party aims to ensure unity and secure maximum votes for President Tinubu in the upcoming general elections.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has called upon the party's elders to intervene in the ongoing crisis stemming from the recent primary elections. The party is working to resolve disputes where some aspirants, initially declared winners, have sued, alleging their names were removed from the candidate list submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

We are glad to have Your Excellency in APC at a time like this. The State chapter and government need your experience and support to pilot affairs.

— Babatunde KolawoleAddressing Chief Omolade Oluwateru, seeking his support for the party.

To address these grievances, the state APC has established and inaugurated a reconciliation committee led by Biyi Poroye, chairman of the Ondo State Oil-Producing Areas Development Commission. The state chairman, Babatunde Kolawole, met with a former deputy governor and Nigerian Ambassador to Uganda, Chief Omolade Oluwateru, to seek his support and experience.

Your Excellency has been lending support at different fronts, we are using this opportunity to urge you to do more, for our state in particular.

— Babatunde KolawoleRequesting further assistance from Chief Omolade Oluwateru.

Kolawole expressed gratitude for Oluwateru's past support and urged him to do more for the state. He acknowledged that crises are inevitable after party primaries, which motivated the formation of the reconciliation committee to address grievances and prevent them from escalating before the general elections. Kolawole appealed to Oluwateru to help reach out to aggrieved members.

I am an establishment person, and a party man to the core, and I pledge my loyalty to the hierarchy of the party. My advice is that we should bring everyone together. I am ready to assist the party in this regard. I want to assure you that I am 100 percent with you on this mission.

— Chief Omolade OluwateruPledging loyalty and support for the party's reconciliation efforts.

Responding, Oluwateru praised the party's proactive approach and the establishment of the reconciliation committee. He pledged his loyalty and readiness to assist the party in bringing all members together, emphasizing the importance of unity for securing maximum votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's re-election in 2027. Oluwateru stated his commitment to the party's development and ensuring Tinubu's victory in the Sunshine State.

I am in the party to assist its development and ensure Asiwaju Tinubu returns as president in 2027. If we waste the chance, we don’t know when it will come to the Yoruba again.

— Chief Omolade OluwateruStating his commitment to President Tinubu's re-election and regional political considerations.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.