A former Chief Press Secretary to ex-Ondo State Governor, Eni Akinsola, has called on the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to uphold equity and the outcome of its primary process in the selection of the party’s candidate for the Irele/Okitipupa Federal Constituency.
In a strongly worded statement, Akinsola said he was yet to see the official list of candidates submitted to INEC, noting that conflicting congratulatory messages had created uncertainty over who eventually secured the APC ticket.
He maintained that his position before, during and after the primary election had remained unchanged, insisting that fairness, justice and the long-standing zoning understanding within the constituency demand that the next House of Representatives member should emerge from Okitipupa State Constituency II.
Akinsola disclosed that he interacted with several leading aspirants, including Dr. Muyiwa Daramola, Hon. O.C. Obayagbon, Hon. Kehinde Ikuyinminu and Hon. Iwagun Temitope Faith, while also acknowledging meetings with Chief Bamidele Omosehin.
He added that he did not initially expect the incumbent lawmaker, Hon. Jimi Odimayo, to seek re-election because of previous public commitments supporting the rotational arrangement between Irele and Okitipupa.
According to him, his support for Dr. Muyiwa Daramola was based not only on the aspirant’s competence and leadership qualities but also on the conviction that Okitipupa State Constituency II deserves its rightful turn to produce the federal lawmaker.
He revealed that Daramola had emerged as the consensus choice of the majority of leaders in Ode-Aye and that he contributed to the campaign without any regrets.
Akinsola further stated that his conviction was strengthened after learning that Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, also favoured Daramola’s aspiration, stressing that he had no intention of opposing the governor or creating unnecessary divisions within the APC.
The former presidential aide, however, warned that if the national leadership had intended to retain all serving lawmakers, such a decision should have been communicated before the primaries to prevent aspirants and their supporters from committing enormous time, resources and goodwill to the process.
While expressing hope that the final list would reflect the outcome many party members worked for, Akinsola pledged loyalty to whatever decision the APC leadership eventually takes, describing the ruling party as a “work in progress” capable of improving its internal democratic processes.
He appealed to all aspirants, party leaders and supporters to avoid inflammatory comments and personal attacks, urging them to place the unity of the APC above individual ambitions.
Akinsola concluded by calling on party faithful to remain focused on securing victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all APC candidates in the forthcoming elections, stressing that political ambitions must ultimately give way to the collective interest of the party and the nation.
