Ondo APC, PDP bicker over Nov. 16 poll outcome

Chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Irele Local Council of Ondo State have advised the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to bury the thought of ruling the state in the next 16 years.

The APC leaders, while declaring that there is no vacancy in the Alagbaka Government House, said that the ruling party would not give up power to the opposition party.

The chieftains, including the Special Adviser to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Health, Prof. Simidele Odimayo; MorayoLebi, and the Council Chairman of the party, Zachariah Omoge, among others, said that the APC would win the forthcoming poll with a landslide victory.

Odimayo, who described Aiyedatiwa as a unifier, said during a stakeholders’ meeting in the council that there is no opposition to the re-election of Aiyedatiwa.

Omoge, on his part, said: “We have started a ward meeting across the local council. There should also be a unit meeting. Co-ordinators have been appointed for the wards. The APC will spend 16 years in the office. As you prepare for the governorship election, you should also prepare for the council election. We must ensure that Aiyedatiwa wins the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State.

“There is already a provision for each of the wards in the council to hold their meetings regularly. In the Irish council, there is no opposition against the re-election of the governor because those who are in opposition have joined the ruling party. Aiyedatiwa will win with about 95 per cent votes.”

Also, one of the governorship aspirants of the party in the last governorship primary election, Morayo Lebi, disclosed that all the aspirants of the party that contested against Aiyedatiwa are currently on the same page with him.

MEANWHILE, the governorship candidate of the PDP for the forthcoming off-cycle governorship election in Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi, has said that the electorate will reject the ruling APC at the poll because of the current economic downturn and hardship.

Ajayi, while urging prospective voters not to be wooed by the APC, said the ruling party had successfully weaponised poverty for selfish purposes.

The governorship candidate, who spoke in Idanre, headquarters of the Idanre Local Council of the state, after the inauguration of a 400-member campaign committee for the PDP, urged the people to ensure that they vote en-masse for the PDP on November 16.

The residents, who welcomed the PDP’s candidate and his entourage into the ancient city during the inauguration of the campaign committee and condolence visit to the palace of Owa of Idanre over the demise of Oba (Dr) Fredrick Aroloye, applauded him for choosing his deputy from the town.

According to them, the chances of the PDP winning the forthcoming governorship election improve every day with the choice of Festus Akingbaso as Ajayi’s running mate.

On his part, Akingbaso urged the people to eschew any form of violence before, during and after the election.