After factions within the party decided to back Benson Akingboye, the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), over Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the APC in the run-up to the November 16 governorship election, there were indications of a rift within the Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday.
The groups which comprise Ondo Patriots, Ondo APC Solidarity Group, Jagaban Coalition and APC Youth League, among others, said the process that produced Aiyedatiwa as the candidate of APC was faulty which informed their decision to pitch tent with Akingboye.
According to a statement issued on behalf of the groups by Dele Oyewo of Ondo Patriots, ”it was a known fact that Aiyedatiwa is an opportunist, turning ingrate on a daily basis to the ladders he used to rise”.
The support groups alleged that what Aiyedatiwa displayed in May to emerge as the candidate of the APC was not only inimical but a fulfilment of the poverty and livelihood imbalance of Ondo State.
It said, “All these unfounded acts against the normal principle of nature by the present governor would hitherto bring untold hardship on the citizens.
‘It is natural except this is quickly corrected by the people of the state themselves through their ballot on November 16, that the state will be clouded by total darkness of hardship in the next couple of years.
”To this end, as far as the forthcoming election is concerned, SDP and its candidate are a better choice and will surely dismantle castles of lies put together by the APC and the PDP.”
It added: “In line with the basic principles of the law of Karma, we the members of various APC groups in Ondo State led by Comrade Dele Oyewo of Ondo Patriots in conjunction with various other groups like, Ondo APC Solidarity Group, Jagaban Calition and APC Youth League, we see the accidental endorsement of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as an aberration not only to the electoral law which stipulates free and fair primaries but also an insult and setback to the dignity of our nation, hence we reject his candidature in totality.
“We boldly declare that SDP is the most popular party in Ondo State presently and as this forthcoming election is concerned. The party and its candidate is a better choice and will surely dismantle castles of lies put together by the APC and the PDP.”
Written By Yemi Balogun