There are strong indications that the incumbent Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, who is seeking a second term in office would emerge as the candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
Not fewer than four of the leading aspirants in the gubernatorial elections have, in a few hours to the commencement of the primary of the party, announced withdrawal from the race for Governor Akeredolu.
Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele became the first aspirant to step down for the Governor. He announced his withdrawal from the race on Sunday night.
Other aspirants, who announced their withdrawal from the race for Akeredolu, include Dr Olusegun Abraham, Jimi Odimayo and Dr Nath Adojutelegan.
They informed that they withdrew from the race to move the party forward.
The Ifeoluwa Oyedele Campaign Organization in a release, signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Yomi Adebayo appreciated the teeming supporters and sea of admirers of Engr Oyedele for their love, loyalty and steadfastness since the commencement of the gubernatorial aspiration of Engr. Ife Oyedele.
The statement disclosed that Engr. Oyedele is convinced that party supremacy, the unity of the APC, peace and stability as well as the overall development of Ondo State are higher ideals than the pursuit of personal ambitions.
The statement reads in part, “After due consultation and indifference to the noble interventions of the leaders of our Party across all levels to ensure unity within the APC family in Ondo State, the Ifeoluwa Oyedele Campaign Organization wants to use this medium to announce to all our supporters that we are withdrawing from the governorship race and throwing our weight behind the incumbent Governor, HE Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu.
“This great sacrifice is strictly borne out of selflessness and patriotism – values that the statesmanship of our nation desperately needs today. Engr. Oyedele then promised that he will always stand on the side of the people even as the people have done to him.”
Meanwhile, the APC in Ondo State has hailed Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele for setting aside personal interest and ambition to step down for Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
The party in a statement issued on Monday and signed by the Ondo APC Director, Media & Publicity, Steve Otaloro, described Engr Oyedele as a true party man who sacrificed his personal interest for the general interest of the party in the state.
The statement disclosed that Engr. Oyedele ran one of the biggest campaign platforms in the governorship race and has invested a large chunk of his resources in funding the campaign before he decided to sacrifice all these for the overall interest of the party.
Otaloro stated that Oyedele’s quest that the APC primary go without bloodshed was commendable.
