2019: Ogun APC to adopt consensus candidate

* as Amosun declares for Senate

Ogun State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it would adopt consensus candidate in determining the party’s governorship candidate in 2019 election.

More than 10 aspirants are jostling for governorship ticket of APC in the state, Daily Trust learnt.

Also, the outgoing governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has declared his ambition to run for Ogun Central Senatorial seat in 2019 election, in a move which may put in a straight fight with present occupant of the seat, Lanre Tejuoso who also planned to recontest.

These decisions were made known on Wednesday at an extended stakeholders meeting of the party in Abeokuta, the state capital on mode of primaries as directed by the party’s national leadership.

The meeting which had in attendance, the state governor, Senator Amosun,  former deputy governors, all the state current and former National Assembly legislators,  state party’s executives, and local government chairmen, among others.

The party agreed that if consensus fails, it would adopt direct primaries to elect candidates for all elective positions in the forthcoming general elections.

The communique issued after the meeting which was presided over by the party chairman, Derin Adeniyi, reads: “The Ogun State APC shall have consensus primary into all elective positions in the 2019 general elections. That where the consensus fails, a direct primary shall be used to choose candidates for such positions”.

In his remark, Amosun laid to rest speculations over his senatorial ambition, saying he would run.

The governor also promised to announce the Ogun governorship candidate of the APC tomorrow, urging all aspirants to meet and pick a consensus candidate.

Amosun said “I am not afraid of any mode of primary.  I am for consensus and if consensus does not work, we will go for direct primary. For us in Ogun State, we are for President Muhammadu Buhari and people say it will help Buhari, if it will make everybody to be involved, so be it.”