Despite the opposition of other aspirants, the National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is insisting on fielding a former President of the Nigeria Bar Association, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu, as the party’s candidate in next year’s governorship election in Ondo State.
Sources at a meeting held on Thursday in Tinubu’s home in Ikeja, Lagos State told The Eagle Online that as soon as Akeredolu was pronounced the candidate, the other aspirants objected.
This was more so for the serious contenders at the meeting.
All the aspirants, except Dr. Tunji Abayomi, were reported to have attended the meeting.
Among the serious contenders at the meeting were Senator Ajayi Borifice, Dr. Olu Agunloye, Dr. Saka Lawal and Chief Segun Abraham.
Mrs. Jumoke Anifowose, daughter of late Chief Adekunle Ajasin, was also at the meeting but was not regarded as a serious contender, just like numerous others.
Borifice was said to have been very bitter as he told Tinubu that it was not fair to have lured him into the ACN and then dump him without allowing for any contest.
Borifice was an ally of the Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, but left him for the ACN.
Others who spoke at the meeting said that a contest should have been allowed and whoever emerged would have had the support of the other aspirants.
At a point, some of the candidates even opted to support any other aspirant but not Akeredolu.
However, Tinubu insisted it must be Akeredolu.
Owing to this, the formal announcement of Akeredolu, who is from Owo, as the candidate of the ACN is to be delayed till next week to allow for further meetings to pacify those who are aggrieved.
Sources told The Eagle Online that Tinubu will be meeting with some of the aspirants, beginning from Friday (today), to reach an agreement “on mode of settlement that will be seen as fair.”
It was learnt that some have already been promised the positions of commissioners and membership of the state government’s boards and parastatals.