From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC) has presented Certificate of Return to the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as the winner of the party’s primary election for the November state governorship poll.
National Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who led the other NWC members to issue the certificate, declared the election as a must win.
Speaking on the sidelines after the presentation of the certificate, the governor promised to pacify the aggrieved contestants to approach the election as a united force.
Aiyedatiwa also assured that he is abiding by the resolutions of the last interface with the NWC and other aspirants including the need for inclusivity, saying some appointments have not been made and would address that.
“Today the exercise has been completed with the presentation of a certificate of return to me. Today I have become the candidate of our great party. I thank President Bola Tinubu for the leadership he has provided, Vice President Kashim Shettima for supporting the leadership, the National chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje for ensuring that they will have successful primaries. I thank the other aspirants for showing sportsmanship. My arms are wide open to them for us to go into the election as one.
“Immediately after the primaries and I was returned as the winner there were some aggrieved by some irregularities but consultation has been on. Majority of us, about 11, first agreed. The other three we have been talking about have led to the appeal committee report submitted today,” he said.
Presenting the certificate to Aiyedatiwa, the national chairman said Ondo will witness unprecedented development under the APC administration of the incumbent governor because of the sequence of continuity he has passed through.
“There is no doubt I am happy because you are also happy. I’m happy because today is the day that we are presenting a certificate of return to our gubernatorial candidate for Ondo state election holds November this year.
“And coincidentally, he was a deputy governor, he was an acting governor, he is a governor today, he will be a governor tomorrow. Ondo state will witness unprecedented development because of this sequence of continuity,” he said.