4 APC aspirants in Ondo constituency reject consensus candidate, demand direct primary

By Boye Oyeyemi

Four aspirants of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo East/West Federal Constituency have rejected the alleged adoption of Abiola Makinde as the party’s consensus candidate for the forthcoming House of Representatives election.

The aspirants, Jibayo Adeyeye, Ade Adeniyi, Bola Fisayo, and Michael Ajilo, described the move as an imposition and called on the party leadership to conduct a direct primary.

Addressing journalists after a joint meeting in Ondo town, the aspirants said they had all purchased nomination and expression of interest forms, affirming their readiness to participate in a transparent primary election, amid maintaining that none of them was involved in any consensus arrangement that produced Makinde, insisting that such a decision could not stand.

“We are not part of any consensus arrangement leading to the endorsement of any candidate for Ondo East/West Federal Constituency,” they said.

“We have all duly obtained our nomination and expression of interest forms and are fully prepared for a direct primary as provided for by the party’s guidelines and the law,” the aspirant added.

The aspirants stressed that the demand for credible representation remained strong among constituents, adding that the issue of poor representation had become a major concern in the area.

“We are aware of the yearnings of our people for credible and effective representation at the National Assembly, and we have presented ourselves as viable alternatives within the party,” they further stated.

They, however, assured party members and constituents that efforts were ongoing among them to reach a common position, while reiterating their call for a fair and open primary process.