The Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) Reconciliation Committee for Ondo State, Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State, on Friday, met with the party’s governorship aspirants with a view to reconciling their differences ahead of the July 20 primary election.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after the meeting, Bello said the main objective of the committee in the state was to reconcile party members and all APC faithful.
According to him, “the reason we are here is for reconciliation in Ondo State. We have met with the aspirants. Our paramount objective is to ensure victory in the forthcoming election.
”We have met with the stakeholders on what we should do to have peace in the party.
”We members of the committee would do everything we can to reconcile all members of the party to resolve any crisis.
“Success of the APC is what we must seek. We should not take action that will make us lose the election,” the committee chairman said.
Speaking on agitation for direct primary, Bello explained that ‘the committee would recommend whatever the members wanted.
“If direct primary is what the stakeholders want, we will recommend to the national headquarters,” he said.
The only six aspirants that attended the meeting were Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Mr Ifeoluwa Oyedele, Mr Bukola Adetula, Ambassador Sola Iji, Mrs Jumoke Anifowose and Mr Jimi Odimayo.
Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, who is the Chairman of Election Committee for Ondo State, had on Friday in Abuja said that the Monday primary would be conducted through indirect mode.
However, one of the governorship aspirants, Chief Olusola Oke, who came late to the meeting, said that he managed to come and see the chairman because he did not get the notice on time.
Oke, therefore, frowned at the adoption of indirect mode of primary and the committee’s visit, saying that he might likely challenge the decision if the committee stuck to its gun
He described the committee’s visit as a wasted effort because there was nothing new the meeting could bring.
He promised that he would not boycott the primary election on Monday, so that he could have locus standi to challenge it.
“I don’t boycott any election. It is not in my character and is not advisable.
“Under the electoral law, if you boycott or you don’t participate, you cannot challenge,” he said.
