… Advocates fair primaries on emergence of candidates

… Ondo APC Chairman vows ‘level field,’ allays fears on consensus

A frontline aspirant for the Ondo North Senatorial District, Alex Oluremi Ajipe, at the weekend, disclosed that the senatorial seat should be returned to the Owo/Ose axis for the sake of fairness and equity following nearly two decades of exclusion.

Ajipe, who rejected any notion of automatic tickets for serving National Assembly members, urged the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to ensure justice and inclusiveness in selecting its candidate for the district.

The industrialist and APC chieftain stated this during a visit to the party’s secretariat in Akure, Ondo State capital, where he officially notified the party’s leadership of his bid to contest the 2027 election and represent the district.

While cautioning against bias, Ajipe, who narrowly lost the party’s senatorial primaries to the incumbent senator four years ago and subsequently worked for the APC’s victory in the 2023 polls as a member of the Tinubu Campaign Organisation, emphasised that loyalty, positive contributions to the party and the state should be given due consideration.

Ajipe, who stressed that the Akoko axis has enjoyed an uninterrupted 16-year hold on the position, emphasised that his ambition is rooted not just in personal interest but in the collective demand of his people, stating that stakeholders from Owo/Ose have consistently agitated for the senate seat.

“I have paid my dues in this party since 1998, from AD to AC, ACN to APC. Many of us have worked tirelessly, believing that one day it will be our turn. When it comes to party empowerment, nobody has empowered the party more than I have.

“Owo/Ose people are agitating that in the last 20 years, they have not produced a senator. Akoko wanted the senate at a time, and it was given to them. Today, the senate has remained in Akoko for four consecutive terms. It is only fair that it returns to Owo/Ose.

“We have a president (Bola Ahmed Tinubu) who came through primaries. If he was not allowed to contest, would he be there today? There is nothing like an automatic ticket. Everyone should be given a fair chance,” he said.

Ajipe, who used the visit to donate a Siena vehicle to the state chapter of the party to boost its operations, stated that the people will be the judge on the performance of the incumbent senator Jide Ipinsagba.

Beyond politics, Ajipe pointed to his economic contributions to Ondo State, disclosing that he has invested approximately $4 million and maintained strong relationships with traditional rulers across the district.

He further drew attention to infrastructural decay in Ondo North, especially the road linking Owo, Ipele, Isua and Akunnu to Kabba en route Abuja, describing it as critical to economic development.

Responding, the APC Chairman in the state, Hon. Babatunde Kolawole, who assured aspirants of fairness and due process, declared that all aspirants contesting on the party’s platform would be given a level playing field in line with the party’s constitution, adding that the party would listen to all aspirants before arriving at a decision.

He said, “It is the culture of the party to formally receive aspirants. As a party, we do not have the power to endorse any aspirant. The leader of the party in the state, the governor, holds that position, and whatever decision he takes is for the betterment of the state.

“As a party, we will give a level playing ground for all aspirants. We have listened to Chief Alex Ajipe, and we will also listen to other aspirants. At the end of the day, we will recommend who best represents the interest of the party and the people.”