Ondo APC guber aspirant picks PDP nomination form

• Monarch urges colleagues to steer clear of politics

One of the top guber aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Mr. Niran Sule Akinsuyi, has abandoned the party and picked the governorship nomination form of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), just two weeks to the party primaries.

Akinsuyi, who is the former Special Assistant to Governor Olusegun Mimiko on Special Duties and the Principal of “Iyanu Asele” political platform, told journalists at the weekend in Akure when submitting his nomination form at the Ali Modu Sheriff-led PDP faction secretariat that he decided to join the PDP so as to get a viable political platform.

“It is a function of where the interest of the people of Ondo State lies and how to achieve it. As individuals, we believe that moving forward as far as the 2016 election is concerned, we need a platform that will allow us shoulder common responsibilities and progress and development to our people.”

He said, “the leaders of the APC today are the same people who left PDP some years ago. So all we need to do is to be sensitive to see where our interest as a people and as a state can be better protected. The same people that worked for President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 were the same people who worked for President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory in 2015.”

Meanwhile, rising from a Yoruba Obas Conflict Resolving Committee meeting in Akure, the Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom, Oba Fredrick Akinruntan has urged all traditional rulers to keep away from partisan politics in the November 26 governorship election in Ondo State.

Akinruntan, who summoned the meeting at the weekend, which was attended by eight other monarchs, told newsmen that it is crucial that no monarch in the 18 local councils in the state should allow himself to be used by politicians in the upcoming election.

“As Ondo State prepares for governorship election, we don’t want any oba to be partisan. We want our members to be neutral and play a fatherly role to every candidate.”
Monarchs present at the meeting included: Oba Akinruntan, Olugedegede of Gedegede, Oba Walidu Sanni; Elerikiti of Eriti Akoko, Oba Ogunleye Amos Sunday; Oluyani of Iyani Kingdom, Oba Joel Sunday Dauda and the Gbaluwe of Igbotu Kingdom, Oba Ajayi Adeniyi.

Others are: Onibuyi of Ibuyi, Oba Rufus Akinrimade; Olubara of Ibara Akoko, Oba Olusegun Atibioke and the Oluro of Uro Ajowa, Oba Ipinmoroji Timoth Adeyemi.