An aspirant for House of Representatives in Idanre/Ifedore constituency, Prince Emmanuel Aderosoye Fadola, has said he has accepted the verdict of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that recognised Hon. Festus Akingbaso as the candidate in next year’s election.
Fadola, in a statement issued on Saturday, advised other aspirants of the party who felt shortchanged by the decision of the NWC to sheath their swords and work for the victory of the flagbearers.
Although, he said he would have wanted to be the candidate of the party for the Constituency, however, he said he has succumbed to the wish of the leadership of the party.
According to him, the prevailing realities have compelled him to step down for the incumbent, Hon. Festus Akingbaso.
He said his decision was guided by the overriding interest of the party and the people of Idanre/Ifedore federal constituency
He said: “We all witnessed the authoritarian attempt by an individual who sought to play God by imposing candidates on party members across the state.
“We also witnessed the blatant violation of established rules and democratic principles during the conduct of our party primaries.
“Yet, despite these glaring irregularities, some aspirants were declared winners, a development that desecrated the very ideals of democracy, fairness and decency.
Dissatisfied with the process, aggrieved aspirants submitted petitions to the APC Primary Elections Appeal Committee.
“After carefully reviewing the compelling evidence before it, the committee recommended the reversal of the manipulated outcomes that had earlier been announced.
Convinced by the weight of the evidence, the National Working Committee (NWC) upheld the recommendations of the appeal committee and ensured that justice was done.
“The lesson from this is clear. It is that no individual has a monopoly of authority within our great party.
“In the interest of the APC, we should all accept the decision of the National Working Committee. This is not the first time the national leadership of our party has intervened to resolve nomination disputes in Ondo State.
“During the 2024 governorship primary election, the exercise was conducted in a manner that many party members considered deeply unsatisfactory.
“Figures were manipulated by those who were appointed to supervise the exercise, leading to the declaration of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the winner. This remains a matter of public knowledge.
“In an apparent attempt to create the impression that the governorship primary was transparent and credible, the exercise in Ifedore Local Government Area was cancelled by the primary election committee on the grounds of violence.
“Another exercise was reportedly conducted. The truth, however, is that there was no violence anywhere in Ifedore on the day of the primary.
“The National Working Committee eventually stepped in and appealed to all aggrieved aspirants to sheathe their swords in the interest of the party. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also intervened.
“Their intervention was not necessarily because they believed the nomination process had been conducted freely and fairly, but because preserving the unity of the APC was paramount.
“As a result, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim withdrew the court case he had instituted against the outcome of the primary election.
“That singular action preserved Governor Aiyedatiwa’s candidature and helped avert what could have been an electoral setback for our party.
“In the recent National Assembly primary election, Hon. Festus Akingbaso clearly enjoyed the overwhelming support of the people of Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency.
“This was evident in the videos and photographs showing the large number of party members who queued behind his posters across the wards. His chances were strengthened by my decision to step down in his favour.
“It is, therefore, difficult to comprehend how someone who had no agents at any of the voting centres could eventually be declared the winner of the nomination exercise.
“It must also be noted that this purported winner had, less than 24 hours before the primary election, publicly stepped down for another aspirant who was later disqualified.
“As party members, we have consistently accepted the interventions and decisions of the national leadership of the APC whenever disputes have arisen from primary elections in Ondo State.
I see no reason why the latest intervention and decision of the National Working Committee should be treated differently. Let us, therefore, sheathe our swords, embrace reconciliation and work together in unity. Doing so will strengthen our party and significantly improve our chances in the forthcoming general elections.”
Fadola said the meeting of Governor Aiyedatiwa with members of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) and other APC leaders came late, as the meeting should have been held before the primary elections of the party in April.
