• Like Awolowo, Tinubu lost out in contest’

• Delegate list was doctored, 80 per cent of votes for Abraham were mine, says Oke

History repeated itself in Ondo State at the weekend when a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), emerged the standard-bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 26 governorship polls after a closely contested primary.Against all odds, the accredited 2,774 delegates across the 203 wards of the state elected Akeredolu as their choice.

This was exactly the case in 1978 when the late Chief Bola Ige defeated Emmanuel Alayande to clinch the Unity Party of Nigeria’s (UPN) ticket for the governorship election in old Oyo State. The endorsement of Alayande by the party’s leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, notwithstanding, younger Ige won the primary election and later emerged governor of the old Oyo State in 1979.

A deluge of mixed reactions has followed the exercise with some stakeholders commending the process and congratulating the winner while others refused to be too enthusiastic.Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2012 governorship election, Chief Olusola Oke, who also contested in the Saturday’s exercise kicked against the results.


Oke, who expressed his displeasure yesterday through his Campaign Director-General, Mr. Bola Fisayo, said the election was not a true reflection of the wishes of the delegates that participated in it. According to him, the list of delegates handed over to the aspirants at a meeting with the Presidency was different from the one brought by the Chairman of the Election Committee, Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Muhammed Badaru.
Oke complained that the list was shown to the aspirants at the eleventh hour and there was no adequate time for scrutiny.He claimed that over 110 names of delegates identified among their camp were removed from both Ondo East and Ondo West local councils and replaced with non-executive members of the party.  

On the whole, however, there is a call for unity of purpose among most of the aspirants that contested with Akeredolu.Former Senate Minority Leader, Olorunninbe Mamora said by the election: “The APC has demonstrated that it could conduct an open and transparent internal democracy. While I will urge all participants in the process to accept the outcome in good faith what is paramount to us as a party now is the election.”

In another reaction, one of the aspirants, Akinyinka Akinnola, described the primary election as very transparent and free and urged the leadership of the party, to as a matter of urgency, start the process of resolving the differences that may have arisen from the exercise.

According to him, “This is important to enable the party to approach the governorship election as a family. For instance, when we are approached to step down for Abraham, I collapsed my entire 500 delegates into his (Abraham) not for any other purpose but in the interest of the party.”

In a similar vein, a former member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Lanre Odubote, expressed confidence that with what happened on Saturday, “victory is sure for the party come November 26 when the governorship election will take place.” And from across the border in Ekiti State came felicitations from the state branch of the APC, which noted, “the rancour-free exercise demonstrates oneness of spirit among party leadership, the aspirants and members. Such conduct signals victory over a ‘bitterly divided rival PDP’ in the governorship election.”

The state Publicity Secretary Taiwo Olatunbosun said in a statement that Akeredolu’s victory was a consolidation of the rancour-free presidential primaries that produced President Muhammadu Buhari to be followed by Kogi State primaries that produced the late Prince Audu Abubakar.

For over three weeks, the APC has floundered politically with endorsement crisis hitting it; a state of uncertainty that had so many wondering whether the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, would have his way or not.  
 
This did not go well with the other 23 aspirants, who presented themselves for screening in Abuja, kicking that the international business tycoon and ally of the leader, Dr. Olusegun Abraham, could not be ‘imposed’ on the party.  


A similar scenario had played out in 1978, when Awolowo, who occupied the influential position, which Tinubu enjoys today in the South West, felt that Alayande was a better candidate for the party in the old Oyo governorship election. 
Awolowo’s preference and endorsement of Alayande was a threat to the ambition of Ige, the former Attorney General of the Federation, whom many felt was younger in age and more brilliant.After several attempts to persuade them to step down for each other failed, they resorted to a primary election; hoping that Alayande who hailed from Ibadan, the second largest city in Africa, would defeat his rival, Ige, whose small Esa-Oke, in Osun State was not a match numerically. 

Springing up surprises, Ige aligned with Alhaji Busari Adelakun, a.k.a “Eru o b’odo” and the late Alhaji Arisekola-Alao from Ibadan, who gave their powerful grassroots machinery and wealth respectively, to floor Alayande at the primary election. And nothing and nobody, not even the Great Awo could change that.

http://m.guardian.ng/news/akeredolus-victory-in-ondo-reechoes-1978-upn-saga/

Cc Lalasticlala, Mynd44

These people should keep quiet and bury their ego.
If care is not taken, Mimiko and his boys will rule for the 3 term

The Election was transparent enough in my opinion, I don't know why it's so hard for him (Oke) to concede defeat!

Abraham has moved on, also vowed to support Aketi to emerge as the new Governor of the State coming November!

Oke should bury his Hatchet, chill and support the Candidacy of Aketi!

In summary.... Tinubu was demystified by Ondo People again.

I have it on good authority the whole thing was a decoy.

I think Tinubu just outsmarted his opponents in Ondo.
AKETI had been his candidate all along.
Abraham was a decoy.
For those who think otherwise, just keep observing. Sooner or later, it will become clearer.

Just wondering why Abraham would not show up till late, giving Aketi all the chance in the world to woo other contestants delegates right at the primary floor. Abarahm showed up at the venue after Aketi had garnered all the needed delegates to win. Abraham was also first to concede victory to Aketi while Oke and Borofice are still complaining. U really believe Tinubu/Abaraham mumu like that?

Where did Aketi get his financing?

Even Tinubu sef no complain about the apparent change of delegates names at the last minute.

bulletproofmonk:
I have it on good authority the whole thing was a decoy.

I think Tinubu just outsmarted his opponents in Ondo.
AKETI had been his candidate all along.
Abraham was a decoy.
For those who think otherwise, just keep observing. Sooner or later, it will become clearer.

Just wondering why Abraham would not show up till late, giving Aketi all the chance in the world to woo other contestants delegates right at the primary floor. Abarahm showed up at the venue after Aketi had garnered all the needed delegates to win. Abraham was also first to concede victory to Aketi while Oke and Borofice are still complaining. U really believe Tinubu/Abaraham mumu like that?

Where did Aketi get his financing?

Even Tinubu sef no complain about the apparent change of delegates names at the last minute.

You really get the Drill! Tinubu has indeed outsmarted other Candidates! Abraham joined the Race simply to split the Votes Oke would have got, and paves way for Aketi to win!

Those who think Tinubu has lost it in Politics because of the APC Primary in Ondo State are simply Learners!!!

I hate Tinubu from the marrows of my bone. But would not stop me from admitting his strengths.

Tinubu may be overbearing, but there is no doubt he always stands by the best brains who wouldn't disapoint if elected. Except for some few Rascals anway.

So, i am not from Ondo but if the reactions from nairaland represent, substantially, the reality on ground in Ondo, then i think Akeredolu's emergence was a mistake by those who wanted to reject Tinubu.

Yes, many have said Segun Abraham would ve been a better candidate. But that is APC headache.

My appeal is for PDP to unite and exploit this blunder with common front instead of flexing muscles.

Oasis007:



Cc Lalasticlala, Mynd44

I WILL ADVISE THE OP TO READ HISTORY BOOKS JOURNALS BEFORE SPEWING THIS RUBBISH.
BEFORE THE UPN PRIMARIES SOME IBADAN LEADERS MET WITH AWOLOWO AND INSISTED THAT AN IBADAN INDIGENE MUST FLY THE UPN FLAG. AWOLOWO REFUSED TO GIVE INTO THEIR DEMANDS.
AWOLOWO ADVISED THAT ASPIRANTS MUST TAKE PART IN THE PRIMARIES.
PA ALAYANLE WAS NEVER AWOLOWO'S CANDIDATE.
IBADAN LEADERS HATED AWOLOWO FOR HIS INSISTENCE ON PRIMARIES.
ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE UPN LATE LAMIDI ADEDIBU, DEFECTED TO THE NPN BECAUSE AN IBADAN INDIGENE DID NOT EMERGE AS THE PARTY'S FLAGBEARER.
FASTFORWARD TO 2016, I AM STILL OF THE VIEW THAT AKETI IS TINUBU'S CANDIDATE.
WHATEVER AKETI SAID AGAINST TINUBU WAS WHAT THEY PLANNED. THEY WANTED TO DECIEVE PEOPLE INTO BELIEVING THAT AKETI IS HIS OWN MAN.

matamaros:

I WILL ADVISE THE OP TO READ HISTORY BOOKS JOURNALS BEFORE SPEWING THIS RUBBISH.
BEFORE THE UPN PRIMARIES SOME IBADAN LEADERS MET WITH AWOLOWO AND INSISTED THAT AN IBADAN INDIGENE MUST FLY THE UPN FLAG. AWOLOWO REFUSED TO GIVE INTO THEIR DEMANDS.
AWOLOWO ADVISED THAT ASPIRANTS MUST TAKE PART IN THE PRIMARIES.
PA ALAYANLE WAS NEVER AWOLOWO'S CANDIDATE.
IBADAN LEADERS HATED AWOLOWO FOR HIS INSISTENCE ON PRIMARIES.
ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE UPN LATE LAMIDI ADEDIBU, DEFECTED TO THE NPN BECAUSE AN IBADAN INDIGENE DID NOT EMERGE AS THE PARTY'S FLAGBEARER.
FASTFORWARD TO 2016, I AM STILL OF THE VIEW THAT AKETI IS TINUBU'S CANDIDATE.
WHATEVER AKETI SAID AGAINST TINUBU WAS WHAT THEY PLANNED. THEY WANTED TO DECIEVE PEOPLE INTO BELIEVING THAT AKETI IS HIS OWN MAN.

I think you forget the post is copy and paste?! Blame it on Guardian Newspaper if you know it more and better than the Writer!
The Source is included mainly to avoid Plagiarism!

Oasis007:


I think you forget the post is copy and paste?! Blame it on Guardian Newspaper if you know it more and better than the Writer!
The Source is included mainly to avoid Plagiarism!

I THOUGHT YOU WERE THE WRITER.
I WILL DIRECT MY GROUSE TO GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER.
TODAY'S JOURNALISTS DONT CARRY OUT RESEARCH BEFORE PUBLISHING RUBBISH.
THEY ARE NOT BETTER OFF THAN IILLITERATES.

bulletproofmonk:
I have it on good authority the whole thing was a decoy.

I think Tinubu just outsmarted his opponents in Ondo.
AKETI had been his candidate all along.
Abraham was a decoy.
For those who think otherwise, just keep observing. Sooner or later, it will become clearer.

Just wondering why Abraham would not show up till late, giving Aketi all the chance in the world to woo other contestants delegates right at the primary floor. Abarahm showed up at the venue after Aketi had garnered all the needed delegates to win. Abraham was also first to concede victory to Aketi while Oke and Borofice are still complaining. U really believe Tinubu/Abaraham mumu like that?

Where did Aketi get his financing?

Even Tinubu sef no complain about the apparent change of delegates names at the last minute.

God bless you. People never knew how smart Tinubu is when it comes to politics. Somebody that used Oba Akinolu to play ethinic card in order to pave way for Ambode in 2015 elections. People thought that Akinolu just made d statement for d fun of it. We shall know who plays d game best in 2019