APC leaders ask to wield the big stick in Ondo State after party loses two senatorial seats

ALL Progressives Congress (APC) leaders are considering a major overhaul of the party on Ondo State following its poor shopping in last Saturday's election that led to the loss of two senatorial seats and President Muhammadu Buhari losing in the presidential polls.

In the presidential elections, President Buhari lost to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar trailing by 241,769 votes to the 275,901 scored by the former vice president. In the senatorial race, the PDP also came out tops, winning the Ondo South and Ondo senatorial Districts, relegating the APC to holding just one seat when it previously held three.

Yesterday, the APC Presidential Campaign Council congratulated Senator Ajayi Boroffice representing Ondo North on his re-election into the National Assembly. It also congratulated the APC House of Representatives members-elect in Odigbo/Ile-Oluji-Oke-Igbo, Mayo Akinfolarin; Owo/Ose, Otunba Timehin Adelegbe; Akoko South-West/South-East, Ade Adeogun and Akoko North-West/North-East, Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, for their victory at the polls.

Council spokesman, Abayomi Adesanya, said: “It is so unfortunate that we lost two of our senatorial seats to the opposition, especially, Ondo South. Senator Yele Omogunwa and some notable leaders did everything humanly possible to dismantle the evil scourge of anti-party activities on the directives of the governor and his deputy given to all his political appointees.

"Especially the local government area councils caretaker committee, commissioners and advisers to work for the candidate of the Action Alliance as against the party’s candidate Senator Yele Omogunwa. Even, in several units Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and  his deputy Agboola Ajayi, worked against the party and members who refused to carry out their order.

"There was no campaign structure or itinerary by the party for its candidates and the party executives at all levels were helpless, docile and moribund. On behalf of the major stakeholders,  loyal party men and women, we sincerely want to appreciate the rescue mission of Engineer Ifeoluwa Oyedele, Chief Olusola Oke, Ambassador Sola Iji, Ali Olanusi and a host of others who worked tirelessly for our party but for them, it would have been a tsunami defeat."

Mr Adesanya  called on the national leadership of the party to investigate these anti-party activities by some members and leaders in Ondo State. he added that any erring member should be sanctioned accordingly, no matter his status.