Ondo 2024: Pick Candidate From Core South, Says APC Group

A group within the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ondo Rennaisance Group (ORG), has cautioned major stakeholders in the party not to give the governorship ticket to a particular local government it considers to be minority in Ondo South.

The group said its decision was about ensuring the nominee was someone who could gather more votes in the six local government areas of Ondo South Senatorial District.

A statement by ORG coordinator, Samson Omogbein, stated that inhabitants of Ilaje, Ese-Odo, Irele, Okitipupa and Odigbo, see themselves as minority whose culture and geographical location related to that of Ondo Kingdom.

He said: “What we are saying in essence is that the party should not waste the ticket. The Ikales and Ilajes account for 90% of the population of Ondo South who are mostly known for their unique traditions, language, customs and values.”

Omogbein noted that despite the fact that Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo local council area is geographically and culturally situated within Ondo speaking area, it was ceded to Ondo South Senatorial District for administrative convenience.

A candidate picked from the axis, Omogbein cautioned, won’t appeal to people in the core South, especially if the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) fielded a candidate from any of the core South.

He was of the opinion that the PDP in the State might pick a candidate from the core South as well, adding that any attempt for APC to pick its candidate from Ile-Oluji might spell doom for the party.

“What we are saying is that if APC picks a candidate from there and present it to us in the South, it would be seen as a sign of weakness, and would alienate voters from other parts of the southern region. In that case, the best strategy for the APC would be to pick a candidate from one of the other local governments in the southern part of Ondo State.

“We don’t want to start losing at home on election day,” Omogbein stated.