Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, says Ondo State is a very important state to the Federal Government in spite of being governed by the Peoples Democratic Party.
Odigie-Oyegun said this on Thursday in Akure during a campaign rally of the APC governorship candidate in Ondo State.
At the campaign, President Muhammadu Buhari; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; some prominent governors elected on the platform of the APC; and others heavyweights of the party were not at the rally.
The party had in a statement listed the absent party heavyweights as those to grace the event.
The launch of the campaign was also earlier rescheduled.
Odigie-Oyegun said the state would remain important to the Federal Government and therefore there was the need for the APC to win the state in the coming gubernatorial polls slated for November 26.
This, he said, needed the commitment and determination of all APC members in the state as it would not be easy to wrestle power from incumbent government.
Also at the event, Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State stressed the need for unity among party members, saying: “Where there are disputes, we must resolve them.
“We must not entertain malice; we should put all hands on deck to ensure that the party emerged victorious at the election.
“We should embark on house to house campaign ahead of the election to ensure that we win the election come November 26.”
Governors of Borno, Sokoto, Plateau and Ogun States as well as Ministers of Solid Minerals, Health and Labour and Employment, among others, were present at the campaign rally.
Members of the APC National Working Committee and some members of the National Assembly were also present.
Many APC members at the event said they were optimistic about the party’s chances in the election.
Some notable politicians in the state defected to the APC at the rally.
They included Gbenga Akereke, Pastor Peter Ojo, Deji Ashiyeshrare and Ben Orimoloye.
The APC flag was handed over to party’s governoship candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu, by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal.
Akeredolu, at the party’s primary, defeated Dr. Segun Abraham, who polled 635, while Chief Olusola Oke came third with 583 votes, while Senator Ajayi Boroffice came forth with 471 votes.
Akeredolu, a former President of Nigerian Bar Association, promised to create jobs through agriculture and entrepreneurship as well as regular payment of workers’ salaries, among others.
Buhari, Osinbajo, Tinubu absent as Ondo APC holds campaign for Akeredolu
