Segun Atanda/
A Federal lawmaker representing Egbado South and Ipokia areas of Ogun, Hon Adekunle Akinlade, has emerged the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the state, amid protest by some party leaders.
News of Akinlade’s choice was first broken shortly after a midnight meeting of party elders from Ogun West Senatorial District on Wednesday, but the presentation of the House of Representatives member today sparked a protest within the party.
The aggrieved party leaders and members from two other zones, comprising of Ogun Central and Ogun East said they were kept in the dark. They said that the secret arrangement was against the constitution of the party.
The APC Chairman in Ogun, Chief Derin Adebiyi, however, said there was no crisis as he presented Akinlade at the party secretariat along Moshood Abiola Way, Abeokuta. He declared the lawmaker as a consensus candidate from the Ogun West Senatorial District, chosen to represent the party at the poll.
According to a report, Adebiyi congratulated the candidate, adding that more appreciation should go to Governor Ibikunle Amosun who has been clamouring for the Ogun West Senatorial District to produce the next governor of the state.
The report by Penpushing online newspaper quoted Adebiyi saying: “Our Governor is used by God for the benefit of Ogun West in the choice of the candidate. I will also call on other aspirants to support the chosen candidate, and we should also know that whatever God has written nobody can change it.”
He explained that in every contest, somebody must win, as he passionately appealed to other contestants and party supporters to start working towards the success of the party in the forthcoming general elections.
He said, “Work has just started and we must work towards winning the 2019 election. I am happy that we have successfully handled the emergence of the candidate. Since over 40 years ago of the creation of the state, Ogun West has not produced a governor and APC is determined to bring that into reality now.”
In his acceptance speech, Akinlade thanked the party leadership and other party members for considering him worthy to represent them at the poll.
He admitted that his choice was God’s doing with the support of the party members, and appealed to other co-contestants to team up with him for the task ahead. He pledged that he would run an all-inclusive government if voted into power.
“We will work together, and on our own part, I want to assure you that we will not let you down. I will not take the party for granted, and I will abide by the rules of the party. I am a good listener and our Governor, Ibikunle Amosun is a good pathfinder who should be appreciated. I also call on all electorate to collect their PVC,” Akinlade said.
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