The sudden demise of Paul Akintelure, a prominent governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, has introduced new dynamics into the political landscape, potentially altering the party’s primary and subsequent governorship elections.
Scheduled for April 20, the APC primary now faces a recalibration following Akintelure’s passing, which occurred in Lagos after a sudden illness. The late medical practitioner had previously raised concerns about threats to his life but remained resolute in his pursuit of the party’s flag.
Akintelure’s death has prompted reflections on his potential impact on the APC primary polls. He was one of 12 aspirants vying for the APC ticket, alongside figures like the state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Wale Akinteriwa, Mayowa Akinfolarin, and Olugbenga Edema, among others. He was considered a respected figure within the APC and among the top contenders for the party’s ticket. Despite this, his approach to issue-based campaigns was perceived as less aggressive, leading some to underestimate his influence.
Rumours had circulated that Akintelure was a “preferred candidate” endorsed by President Bola Tinubu, owing to his political history and connections. However, his demise has left a void that other aspirants are likely to seek to fill, potentially shifting the dynamics of the race.
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While his passing is a loss to the political scene, commentators like Adeola Adegbenro and Iyiola Omoboriola suggest that the impact on the APC’s political calculations may be limited. They point to other strong contenders, such as Aiyedatiwa and Akinteriwa, who are from the same zone and are actively campaigning for the party’s ticket.
“It is unfortunate that we lost him, but it is now obvious that the game will change in the next couple of weeks, especially among other aspirants,” said Adegbenro. “Although some thought he wasn’t popular, he has far-reaching connections, and it is one of the determining factors in this exercise.”
“Our prayer is that God should give the family the strength to bear the unfortunate loss,” said Iyiola Omoboriola. “Having said that, the party has not come out to tell us they have a preferred candidate, and most importantly, we have other aspirants who are jostling for the ticket.”
As the APC navigates these changes, the focus now shifts to how the remaining aspirants will position themselves in the race, with the ultimate goal of securing victory in the main governorship election slated for November 16.
