As the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary in Ondo State begins today, pressure is mounting on some aspirants to consider withdrawal from the race.
Despite boasting about their chances, observers speculate that certain aspirants may opt to step aside before voting.
The primary will see 171,922 revalidated party members cast their votes across 203 political wards.
Among the frontrunners are incumbents Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, alongside Wale Akinterinwa and Isaacs Kekemeke.
Against this backdrop, the Asiwaju Mandate Group (AGM), supported by the Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has called for the need for party cohesion post-primary.
Director General of the AGM, Muyiwa Asagunla said: “The political atmosphere of the state is becoming so tensed and he (Tunji-Ojo) needs to speak that he is not behind any aspirant. He made it clear that this group is not and will not be behind any aspirant.
“We have personalities here supporting different aspirants. They are from the camps of different governorship aspirants.
“People have seen that the Minister is unbiased about it. What he is after is that we have stability in the politics of Ondo State.
“When the party speaks, that is the candidate we are going to pitch our tent with. As of today, we are for all the aspirants and at the same time we are not for any of the aspirants.
“We believe that politics and elections in Ondo State substantially dictate the direction of things in the general elections in the country and hence the need to have a formidable and pro-people governor and government come November when the Ondo State Gubernatorial election will hold.”
An aspirant, Funmi Waheed-Adekojo, has declared her loyalty to the party, indicating a willingness to step down if called upon by party leadership.
“I will step down for my loyalty of the party. If the party asked me, I will do so. It is where the party goes I will go,” she said.
