An All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship aspirant in Ondo State, Olusola Oke, has said Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s declaration that there was no vacancy in the government house was intended to undermine the party’s primary election.
The governor had, while fielding questions from journalists on Friday in Abuja, declared that there was no vacancy in the Ondo State government’s house.
Oke was of the opinion that what the governor said was intended to undermine a democratic exercise.
Reacting to the governor’s statement, Oke said: “It is an aphorism from all incumbent persons. We heard this one in Lagos when (Akinwumi) Ambode was there. Ambode said there was no vacancy. He had to leave when he needed to leave.
“It is a statement of wish and desire by the governor and it is a statement that is intended to undermine a democratic exercise.
“If we are going into a primary and the people have to determine, how would anybody have the guts to say there is no vacancy?
“There is no vacancy between now and February next year, no doubt! But after February, his one year tenure would be exhausted and then there’ll be a vacancy.
“I don’t intend to take over from him before the expiration of his one year in office. So, the essence of this exercise is that there will be vacancy after one year term and that he or somebody else will occupy the seat.
“Having regard to my pervasive, wide contact with the people, I believe that I am succeeding him.”
The aspirants contesting the primary election next week are: Olusoji Ehinlanwo, Hon. Okunjimi John, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim and APC National Vice Chairman (South West), Isaacs Kekemeke.
Others are: Akinfolarin Samuel, Adewale Akinterinwa, Olugbenga Edema, Olusola Oke (SAN), Gen. Ohunyeye Felix, Morayo Lebi, Garvey Iyanjan, Prof. Francis Faduyile and Ifeoluwa Oyedele.
Ondo: Aiyedatiwa’s ‘no vacancy’ statement aimed at undermining APC primary – Oke
