From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has expressed optimism that the party will manage its crisis diligently and win the governorship election in Edo and Ondo States come September and November this year.
Noting that the major crisis in Ondo is about getting the party’s ticket, Basiru said Godwin Obaseki will be kicked out of the government house because the crisis in Edo has been settled within the APC.
Speaking with journalists at a media parley in Osogbo, on Friday, Basiru urged Nigerians to be patient with President Tinubu and support him with prayers to take Nigeria to the greater heights
“We are working towards the primary in Ondo, we have successfully managed the primary in Edo State and by the grace of God, we are going to take over the two States.
“We are confident that we are going to send Godwin Obaseki out in Edo. Ondo state is a one-party state. It is a state of our party. The struggle is about getting the party ticket. Just as we did in Edo, we are going to manage whatever crisis that will come out of the selection process in Ondo in a very mature and cordial manner,” Basiru said.
Reacting to the insinuation that he was at loggerheads with former Osun Governor and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, over the 2026 governorship election, Basiru said all the reports about the rumour were fabricated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He said the assignment given to him and Oyetola was much more than fighting over the governorship election when the form is not even out for contestants to show interest.
“The truth is this, some of those stories you saw were concocted by the rudderless propaganda machinery of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s government. They are jobless.
“Our party is a party of leadership. As of today, there are two former governors in our party, Baba Bisi Akande and Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola. They are my leaders. So, you can not say that I’m fighting my leaders,” Basiru said.
Asked why he did not mention Rauf Aregbesola as a former governor and his leader, Basiru said, “go and ask him which party he belongs to. I’m the National Secretary of APC and I know that we’ve done a series of elections and he has never participated in any of the elections we held since 2022 in the state. I don’t know which party he belongs to,” Basiru said.