Akeredolu polled total votes of 669 out of 2,774 votes, to beat 23 other contestants including the presumed national leader of the party, Bola Ahmed Tinibu's choice candidate, Dr. Segun Abraham, who came close second in the race with 635 votes.
But the unfolding events after the election show that there are still many issues to be ironed out within APC. No thanks to the many dramas that came up before and after the poll.
There was a particular statement credit to Akeredolu where he was quoted to have said that "Tinubu will be shocked by Ondo primary result", though he has since denied it.
Interestingly too, one of the guber aspirants who contested in the primary, Ekungba had came out and lamented to have been deceived by the delegates that supposed to have voted for him. He was quoted to have said that "he is highly disappointed in Ondo peoplem." That they turned their backs on him when it mattered most and after he had spent over N300 million on them.
While another aspirant Chief Oluwole Oke has rejected the result of the poll. He believes the election was not a true reflection of the delegates that participated in the primary.
Meanwhile, Tinubu's supposed anointed candidate for the party, Dr. Segun Abraham on his own has since conceded defeat and congratulated Akeredolu and urged party members to work in harmony to prepare for the major battle ahead. He promises to always be there to support his party and Ondo State whenever need be.
Even Tinubu has issued a powerful press release, urging party members in Ondo State to unite and support the winner of the party’s ticket.
In the said release, he stated that “In Ondo we must close ranks to achieve victory. The future of the state and of the party in the state should never be held ransom to insignificant personal animosities and perceived slights."
However, all these developments have raised a major discourse within the political circle, in relative with Akeredolu's fate in winning the guber election. As some believe there are still more trouble for him within the party.
This school of thought sighted the case of Ribadu's experience in 2011 as an example. When he became the ACN presidential candidate. But even as flag bearer of his party, there were and are still insinuations till today that the party did not really work for him, except for Aregbesola who did not sell out and delivered Osun.
They believe even in victory and despite Tinubu having an anointed candidate Akeredolu must quickly reconcile with not just Jagaban, but the other candidates, fast, to present a common front and come with glory.
While some are of the opinion that Akeredolu's victory is a pointer to the fact that politics of godfatherism is fading away in our system.
On the other hand, some believe Akeredolu must have gathered enough political experience that will make him scale through all the hurdles ahead of him. Having contested for the governorship post under Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
But whether he can win the war within his party to forge ahead and face the candidate of their main opposition in PDP, Eyitayo Jegede, who confidently is also a SAN or it goes other way. All these will be determined in two months time as Ondo goes to election.
-'Dare Adeniran.
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