The All Progressives Congress (APC) has admitted that the November 26th, 2016 governorship election in Ondo state would be a “tough and difficult” horse race between the party and the major contenders in the state.
John Odigie-Oyegun, the embattled National Chairman of the APC, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja.
Mr. Odigie-Oyegun said like the Edo state governorship election that was difficult for the party, the election in Ondo state would also not be a walkover for the opposition APC.
“In Edo, it was difficult and not a walk-over; it was a tough election and a difficult election.
“This also will not be a walkover. It will be a tough and difficult election, but we will win”, he noted.
He spoke after inaugurating a 49-member Campaign Committee of the party for the Ondo governorship poll.
The Campaign Committee is head by Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau state according to a party document seen by Saharareporters.
The party document also nominated the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yusuf Lasun, to lead the committee with nine other governors and federal ministers.
Odigie-Oyegun said the Committee should be prepared for a big challenge of delivering the state to the APC.
“The challenge I am passing on to you today is the obvious challenge that arose at the primary.
“But, I trust that you and your team will overcome those difficulties and deliver Ondo to the APC family,” he said.
He added that the intrigues that arose after the September 3rd, 2016 governorship primary election has made it difficult for the party to progress.
“Otherwise, Ondo state is ripe for the taking and ripe to be added to the APC progressive family.”
“At the higher level, we are already doing things to bring the contending interests together and restore Ondo state to the progressive family.
”We want the people of Ondo state to know that the day of redemption has come and by the grace of God, we shall triumph.” Mr. Odigie-Oyegun stated further.
He also explained that the leaders of the party deliberately enlarge the Committee due to the time frame for campaigns.
“It was made so that it will be possible to handle well the various activities that need to be undertaken,”
In accepting the assignment, Gov. Lalong promised that the committee would secure victory for the opposition party in Ondo state.
He said the committee would also work towards reuniting all aggrieved leaders especially Ahmed Bola Tinubu and members of the party before the governorship election in the state.
“Asiwaju (Bola Tinubu) is a national leader; he is a key factor to the government both in Nigeria and the party.
”When we talk about reconciliation even if he was not involved, wherever you are going to talk about reconciliation, you must consider him as a factor in the election.
”What we are talking about is that all hands must be on deck, not one person; everybody must be involved just like they did in Edo.
”We were all involved that was how we won Edo. In this case, we see the same thing happening.
”At the end of the day, it’s the interest of the party and the interest of the nation. All of them will come,” he said.
Rotimi Akeredolu, the governorship candidate of the party who addressed newsmen at the end of the inauguration said the APC remains the party to beat in the election.
Akeredolu added that he was not threatened by the protest that greeted his emergence and the defection of Mr. Olusola Oke from the party to the Alliance for Democracy party.
John Odigie Oyegun and Bola Ahmed Tinubu
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