Akeredolu never endorsed any aspirant

A few weeks to the governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State, one of the governorship aspirants, Prof Francis Faduyile, has declared that he will be the next governor of the state in 2025.

Faduyile, who is a former President of the Nigerian Medical Association and former Special Adviser to late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu on Health, also disagreed that Akeredolu endorsed anyone to succeed him before his death.

The According reports that two of the aspirants, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and another frontline aspirant, Mr Wale Akinterinwa, claimed that the late governor had endorsed them as his successor but Faduyile said nothing of such happened.

Speaking after his visit to members of the State Executive Council of the APC, at the party secretariat in Akure, on Tuesday, the medical doctor said there was no time the late Akeredolu mentioned endorsement of any of the aspirants.

He said, ” I work with Aketi (Akeredolu) and I can tell you for a fact that he has no preferred candidate. I attended all, except one state executive council meeting, and there was no time that he came out to say he is supporting anyone. I don’t know what he does in his sitting room or bedroom but I expect if he has done that, he should inform his cabinet members.

“For those who are saying they have been endorsed, endorsement is good but you have to work for it. I am working for it, I believe that with God, all things are possible but I am not resting on my part that even if he has endorsed me, I will not sit down. We have to work for it.”

On his visit to the state party executives, the aspirant explained that it was meant to formally inform the state exco of his aspiration, expressing optimism that he would have their support.

“I have taken it upon myself to come and inform the state executive committee of the party that I am contesting and I am going to start the local government visitation to seek the support of members of the party so that I can be the candidate of the APC in the forthcoming November election.

“We have discussed with the state executive council and I am very happy that they have been receptive to our aspiration and they have shown a lot of interest in the way that we have presented our point on how we want to improve things in Ondo State. I am very positive that at the end of the entire electoral process, that we will come out victorious,” he stated.

The According reports that the national secretariat of the APC has fixed April 25, 2024, for the state governorship primary while a sum of N50 million has been fixed for the expression of interest and nomination forms for the aspirants.