Governorship aspirants of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State on Wednesday turned the visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the state to show their popularity ahead of the party’s primary.
No fewer than 15 aspirants in the APC, including the incumbent governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, have declared their intention to jostle for the party’s governorship ticket.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had scheduled April for the primaries of the political parties ahead of the November 16 governorship election in the state.
Daily Trust gathered that the visit of the president to the Sunshine State was to pay his condolences to the family of the late Rotimi Akeredolu and the people of Owo over the death of the former governor.
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President Tinubu also stopped over at the house of the leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, in Akure, the state capital, during his visit.
Daily Trust observed that many of the aspirants showed their strength as they mobilised their supporters across the 18 local government areas of the state to welcome the president at Akure Airport.
Branded in distinctive political attire, the supporters were also seen with different political campaign materials, such as posters and banners.
Activities were paralysed in the state, mostly in Akure, the capital, for more than four hours during the president’s visit.
Though not from the state, the president is, however, expected to play a critical role in who emerges as the APC candidate for the November 16 governorship election.
Meanwhile, one of the leading political aspirants, Wale Akinteriwa, has alleged that his supporters and other members of the APC were prevented from meeting with the president during his arrival in the state.
Akinteriwa, in a statement issued by its campaign organisation and signed by its spokesman, Segun Ajigboye, described the barring of his supporters as the most undemocratic, disrespectful, unreasonable, and disdainful attempt by the governor.
“Ordinarily, we would not have responded, but based on the intelligence report at our disposal that he and his supporters have perfected plans to unleash mayhem on our people both at Owo and Akure, it is necessary for us to bring this to the attention of peace-loving Nigerians,” he said.
But responding, Governor Aiyedatiwa, through his Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, denied that he stopped other aspirants in the party and their supporters from receiving President Tinubu.
Adeniyan said the president’s visit was a state visit and not for political campaigns, adding that only government officials were allowed to receive and welcome Tinubu in the state.
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