One of the leading governorship aspirants who contested the gubernatorial ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on April 20 in Ondo State, Gbenga Edema, has emerged as the candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) ahead of the November 16 poll.
The emergence of Edema was ratified during a substitution governorship primary of the NNPP held, yesterday, in Akure, the state capital, following the withdrawal of Oluwatosin Ayeni from the race.
According to Edema, who represented the state on the governing board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the decision to quit the ruling APC was due to a lack of internal democracy in the party, which he described as robust in the NNPP-fold.
Edema, who vowed to unseat Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, also picked his running mate ahead of INEC’s June 18, 2024 deadline for the substitution of candidates by political parties.
He said: “I have carefully studied the manifesto of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), which has been skilfully put together by some great minds, and I have found out that a great deal aligns with our vision as encapsulated in the Igbega Ondo manifesto, which has been put together by our team for taking Ondo State out of the woods and setting it on the “consolidation and sustainability lane” for total development.
“The demise of the All Progressives Congress is just around the corner, like its sister, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), from which it took over the reign of power.
“It is on this note that I hereby formally announce my resignation from the APC forthwith and pitch my tent with the New Nigeria People’s Party, a truly progressive and people-oriented party. This is a party for the immediate future.”
“We, therefore, use this medium to serve a quit notice to Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa and his APC cohorts that effective February 24, 2025, the Government House in Alagbaka will no longer be available for their use.”
Earlier, Ayeni, in his letter of withdrawal made available to newsmen, said that his withdrawal was in the interest of the party.
Also, Peter Olagookun, the NNPP State Chairman, who confirmed the withdrawal of the candidate, said that Ayeni willingly withdrew his candidature to make way for the better candidature of the party.
