A former All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Ondo State, Olugbenga Edema, on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, emerged as the candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) for the November 16 gubernatorial election in the state.
Israel Ayeni, who won the party’s primary election on April 26 voluntarily withdrew on Wednesday, paving way for his substitution with Edema.
At the substitution primary election held on Wednesday, Edema, the sole candidate of the election, was affirmed by a voice vote by the 180 delegates across the 18 Local Government Areas of Ondo State.
The Chairman of the 2024 NNPP Electoral Committee, Ayeni Aladelusi, who announced Edema as the party’s candidate, said there was a constitutional provision for substitution within a stipulated period.
Aladelusi stated that following the withdrawal of Ayeni, the members resolved to substitute him with Edema, “a tested politician and administrator”, to fly the party’s flag.
Also speaking, Ayeni disclosed that he withdrew his interest in the governorship race in the interest of the party.
In his acceptance speech, Edema thanked God for giving him the opportunity to present himself to serve the people of Ondo State.
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He also appreciated the National Chairman, members of the National Working Committee, State Working Committee of NNPP, and delegates for their support and confidence reposed in him.
Edema said: “I offer myself as your candidate and standard bearer for the Ondo State gubernatorial election coming up on the 16th November 2024.
“I accept the challenge, I accept the mandate freely and willingly granted to me today, and I promise not to ever look back.”
Edema further stated that the manifesto of the party aligned with his vision as encapsulated in the ‘Igbega Ondo’ manifesto.
The governorship candidate, who was one of the 16 aspirants that jostled for the April 20 governorship primaries of the APC, said his vision was set on the “consolidation and sustainability lane for total development of Ondo State”.
Edema, who decried the conduct and process of the APC primary election in April, stressed that internal democracy is well rooted in the NNPP.
He said the primary election conducted by the leadership of the APC lacked internal democracy.
Edema added: “This act of impunity should not be supported and be allowed to continue in our polity. It is trite that you cannot give what you do not have.
“And as the saying goes ‘a house built with spittle will certainly collapse under the early morning dew’.
“The demise of APC is just around the corner like its sister, the Peoples 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 APC forthwith.
“I hereby pitch my tent with the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), a truly progressive and people-oriented party.”
He subsequently nominated Dr Rotimi Adeyemi as his running mate ahead of the November 16 governorship election.
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