Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman Isaacs Kekemeke has assured the party’s governorship aspirants and members that its primary will be determined by over 3,000 delegates.
Kekemeke, who said this at the weekend, urged the aspirants to devote their time and energies to solicit for votes. He added that the primary will ensure a level-playing field for the aspirants.
The APC chairman noted that even though the responsibility of organising primary elections rests on the National Executive Council (NEC) members, he assured party members that the election will be free, fair and transparent.
He added that whoever “will emerge victorious, will win fairly and those who will lose, will also lose fairly”. This, he said, would make the election credible.
Kekemeke, who noted that it was within the right of any member to support any aspirant of his/her choice, said no individual has the power to impose any candidate on the party. He said: “Party leaders have preferences. The only thing they can do is to use goodwill or influence. But the election will still be decided by the delegates and will be free and fair and the electorate will see their votes clearly as everything will be done in the open.”
The party chairman sought the support of APC members to ensure that the primary is transmitted live on television. He prayed that anyone, who would not benefit the party and the state, should not get the APC ticket.
According to him, “the hardship Ondo people are witnessing is a reflection of bad leadership in the state”.
Kekemeke received some gifts donated by Isaac Olemija, member in the House of Representatives representing Akoko North East/North West Local Government Areas, for the use of the party secretariat. He thanked the lawmaker for the good gesture and assured him that the gifts would be judiciously used.
The APC chairman hailed the party’s five members of House of Representatives for their monthly donations. He noted that the money has been of tremendous help in running the party’s affairs in the last seven months. He also acknowledged the legislators’ supports to their constituencies. Kekemeke described Olemija as a party man, who has been of great support to the APC.