The Ondo APC Unity Forum has officially settled for the choice of Chief Olusola Oke as the consensus candidate of the group to face Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu in the forthcoming Ondo state October 10 2020 governorship election.
The APC chieftains, who had in the past three years played formidable opposition to the present administration, have vowed to stop Governor Akeredolu’s second term bid in the APC primary slated for July this year.
Sequel to the failed attempts to reconcile Akeredolu with members of the opposition Unity Forum, it instituted a seven-man committee to pick a consensus candidate against the governor after a recent meeting by its leaders in Abuja.
In the past few days, there has been a lot of lobbying and politicking among the aspirants lined up within the opposing camp with the aim of stopping Akeredolu’s re-election bid in the upcoming direct primary, as announced by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.
A close source to the Unity Forum had earlier disclosed that the aggrieved party is of the opinion that Oke is a big political weight to beat if selected by the forum.
He said, “Chief Olusola Oke is the best man for the group. Chief Oke has the political clout and pedigree to dislodge the governor in the primary election. If Unity Group should consider him, the game is over for Aketi; he cannot match his candidacy and the group at large.”
Meanwhile, there had been a widespread rumour that Chief Oke, who had contested the governorship election twice in the state, had been picked by the committee, led by Senator Omogunwa.
The aspirants being screened by Unity Forum are Abraham, Adetula, Oke, Oyedele, Jimi Odimayo, Olaide Adelami, Akin Awodeyi, Dapo Adelegan, and Kazeem Olanrewaju. And as gathered from an insider within the group, they all agreed to support whosoever emerges the consensus candidate.
The group however announced the much awaited consensus candidate of the Unity Forum through a social media press, adopting Olusola Oke as its candidate to face Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu at the APC primaries slated for July, 2020.
Below is the full text of the press text;
Gentlemen of the press, considering the mood of the state and continuous ban on political meetings and the fact that INEC has given its nod for electronic campaign, we hereby present to the public the long awaited report of the Ondo APC Unity Forum concerning its governorship aspirant for the 2020 governorship election in Ondo state, as presented by the Gubernatorial Candidate Selection Committee.
The Unity Forum, by the content of the report has adopted Chief Olusola Oke, SAN as the candidate of the Forum. All the leaders and members of the Unity Forum are hereby enjoined to begin mobilisation across the state for the candidate of the forum.
REPORT OF 7-MAN GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE SELECTION COMMITTEE FOR UNITY FORUM
During the meeting of the Aspirants on March 23, 2020, a unanimous decision was taken by all the Aspirants that the 7-man Gubernatorial Candidate Selection Committee should come up with a candidate to represent the Unity Forum in the Ondo State 2020 General election. This is due in part to the failure of the Aspirants to reach a consensus on a person to represent them as a candidate. In taking this unanimous decision, all the ten (10) Aspirants
(1) Dr Segun Abraham
(2) Barrister Olarewaju Kazeem
(3) Barrister Bukola Adetula
(4) Prince Dapo Adelegan
(5) Mr Adelami Olayide Owolabi
(6) Mr Akintunde Akinsewa Awodeyi
(7) Barrister Mrs Jumoke Anifowose
(8) Chief Olusola Oke
(9) Engr Ife Oyedele
(10)Prince Jimmy Odimayoagreed to accept the candidate recommended by the Committee. However, one of the Aspirants insisted that he must be convinced that the process would be credible.
Consequently, on March 24, 2020, six members of the committee met and one was unavoidably absent. They debated on the issue of presenting a candidate in line with the Committee’s terms of reference and the concurrence of the aspirants.
As a result, four of the six members opted for Chief Olusola Oke SAN, one opted for a technocrat whose identity was not disclosed and one opted for a female Aspirant.
We thank the leader of Unity Forum H.E. Alhaji Alli Olanusi and the members of the forum for giving us the opportunity to serve in this challenging task of selecting a candidate for the forum.
Senator Yele Omogunwa. Chairman
Prof Sola Ehindero. Secretary
Members
Elder Mike Adeyeye.
Hon Afe Olowookere.
Ajiroba Boye Adegbemisoye.
HE Olukemi A Iyantan (Mrs).
Prince Solagbade Amodeni.Thank you.
H.E. Alhaji Ali Olanusi
Former Deputy Governor of Ondo state.
