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The ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) issued a disclaimer to a statement credited to a group “Unity Mandate Agenda” alleging that Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has been “endorsed” for a second term by the party’s national chairman, Adam Oshiomhole and the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Issa-Onilu, on Tuesday, the party described the statement as “a grevious falsehood intended to create disaffection” among APC members.
The APC said it is not in the business of endorsing candidates for election but to comply strictly to the tenets of democracy as a progressive party.
“We hereby refute this spurious statement and wish to state unequivocally that neither the National Chairman nor any member of the Party’s National Working Committee (NWC) has the power to endorse any aspirant,” said the party.
“The APC is not in the business of endorsing aspirants.
“As a progressive party, our ultimate guiding principle is strict adherence to the tenets of participatory democracy.
“Our members in Ondo State and elsewhere should ignore this unfounded report.”
The APC NWC stated that it is committed to providing level playing grounds for all eligible aspirants willing to contest for the party’s ticket in its governoship primaries to be held in Edo and Ondo states.
“As we move close to governorship primaries in both Edo and Ondo States, it should be expected that mischief makers would do their worst to impugn on the process. As always, they would fail in this current campaign,” said the ruling party.
“Our responsibility as the National Working Committee is to provide level playing ground for every eligible aspirant to contest for the ticket.
“The Party’s schedule of activities for the Edo and Ondo Governorship elections have been released.
“Our focus now is to ensure proper screening of aspirants, due diligence and conduct free, transparent and credible primaries to elect the Party’s candidates for both elections.
The APC therefore urged its members to continue to count on them to provide responsible leadership and act strictly by the rules at all times.”