The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has congratulated Otunba Mayokun Lawson Alade who emerged as the party’s candidate in the primry it conducted to pick candidate for the bye election to fill the vacant seat of Akyre South/Akure North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
The seat became vacant following the passage of Hon Adedayo Omolafe popularly called Expensive in August last year.
Alade had won the party’s primary which held on Monday in Akure the state capital.
A statement on Thursday by the party’s Director of Media and Publicity, Mr Steve Otaloro, also thanked members of the party in the constituency over the successful and peaceful conduct of the primary.
Alade polled 305 votes to defeat seven other aspirants including two former House Representatives members, Hon Sunday Abegunde who polled 56 votes and Derin Adesida 16 votes, a member of the House of Assembly, and Sunday Olajide who scored 13 votes.A former Women Affairs Commissioner in the state, Omowunmi Olatunji Olatunji-Ohwovoriole came second by polling 196 votes.
Abegunde was also the Secretary to the State Government SSG
Others included a former House of Assembly member, Demola Adegoroye who polled 66 votes, Mr Owoyemi Emmanuel Bukola four votes, and Dennis Fadairo 43 votes.
The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC had slated the bye-election for February 26.
According to Otaloro’s statement: “The massive turn out of members for the exercise reflects the positive effect of the membership registration and revalidation exercise, undertaken by the party. The turnout also reflect the unity of purpose of members in the leadership rank of the repositioned APC in the state.
“We assured party faithfuls in the two Local Government Areas that their decision at the primary would be respected by the party as the party is committed to building a strong internal democracy.
“This by-election primary is a good litmus test for us as a political party towards building a stronger and more formidable party structure with the sole purpose of growing and strengthening the party support base at the grassroot level unto wining all the forthcoming general elections in the state.
“We appreciate all the aspirants that participated in the primary, you should all see yourselves as true progressives for conducting a peaceful, free and fair by-election primary in unison. The peaceful exercise is an indication of one united political family in the state. It is highly, commendable.
“Consequently, you should all unite as stakeholders to campaign and win the MHR seat for our great party in your respective local government areas.
“We also commend our members of the party in the two LGAs for displaying maturity by conducting themselves in a very peaceful and civilised manner throughout the period of the exercise.
“We congratulates the winner of the primary, Mr Lawson Alade for the remarkable feat, as success required dodged determination. It was not an easy task to win primary election in this type of contest that involves political heavy-weights, you have done a huge work with this win.
“It has been proven that your people love you a lot, now it is your turn to show it that you love them, as well. We have the belief and the confidence in you that you will win the seat for our party and do amazingly as an elected MHR of the LG areas, congratulations on your success.”
Chairman of the seven-man primary committee and the deputy governor for Anambra State, Nkem Okeke had declared Alade the winner of the primary election held at The Dome, Akure on Monday night.
Okeke said 702 delegates participated in the primary election adding that three ballots were voided.
He thanked the aspirants and delegates for conducting themselves peacefully during the election.
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu had assured delegates participating in the election that he has no preferred candidate among the aspirants jostling for the party’s ticket.
He encouraged all delegates to vote according to their conscience.
He urged the delegates to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner to sustain the existing peace in the state and the party.
”I have said it over and over again that I have no candidate. I’m supporting nobody, go and vote according to your conscience.”
The governor warned the delegates against any form of violence, stressing that they should all cast their votes in an orderly manner.
He informed that delegates that the election 8-member committee has assured of legal playing ground, adding that they will be free and fair to everyone.
Akeredolu explained that the APC had conducted several primaries in the state including governorship primary that produced him without any rancour while urging the delegates to ensure the bye-election primary is violence-free.
He assured that whoever emerges as the candidate of the party during the primary would be supported by all to ensure overwhelming victory at the poll.
He said he is confident that APC would emerge victoriously at the bye-election.
