“Following the announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with regard to the governorship elections in Ondo State, I extend congratulations to Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN on the outcome of the election and for his perseverance and persistence in seeking that office.”
That is National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, reacting to Rotimi Akeredolu’s victory in the Ondo governorship election conducted on Saturday.
Akeredolu of the APC polled 244,842 votes to defeat his closes rival, Eyitayo Jegede, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who recorded 150,380 votes.
Olusola Oke of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) placed third with 126,889 votes.
The former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president achieved the victory in spite of Tinubu’s well advertised opposition to his candidacy.
Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos launched an attack on APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, over the party’s choice of candidate and boycotted all campaign rallies ahead of the election.
He is believed to have provided tacit support for Oke to spite President Muhammadu Buhari and Oyegun
A statement released by Tinubu’s media office on Sunday, however, delivered a conciliatory message.
“I must also congratulate the people of Ondo State for their generally exemplary conduct on election day and for demonstrating their will to shun the regressive politics of yesterday by returning to the progressive brand of politics that has been the trademark of the people of that state,” Tinubu continued.
“I congratulate all party members in the state, particularly the party leadership in the Southwest.
“Finally, I must express profound congratulations to President Muhammadu Buhari, the national leader of the party, whose stature and dignity helped guide the APC to another victory that should advance the progressive aims of the party and the people.
“To all the people and parties in Ondo, your election has been had and held. Now is the time that all must work for the continued development, prosperity and peace of your state and our beloved country.”
Mindful of the disaffection caused by the struggle for control within the APC, Tinubu concluded that “I appeal to all party members including those who have been disaffected from the primary until today to come together for the good of our party and its progressive ideals.”
