Why I Return To APC – Olusola Oke

By Niyi Olutunde, Akure

The governorship candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in the
last governorship election in Ondo State, Chief Olusola Oke, SAN, has
returned to his former political party, the All Progressives Congress
(APC).

Also, prominent members of the party including the running mate of Oke, Mr Ganiyu Dauda were among those who left the AD for the APC.

Oke was received into the APC by the acting Chairman, Engr Ade Adetimehin and Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN.

It would be recalled that some members of the AD had in December last year defected to the APC on the directive of Olusola Oke and other leaders of the party in the state.

Oke, a former National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) contested the governorship primary election of the APC and lost to Mr Rotimi Akeredolu who later emerged the Governor of the state.

While speaking at a rally where he publicly returned to the APC, Oke hinged his exit from the APC on an all alleged irregularities in the primary election which produced Akeredolu as the party flagbearer.

He however declared that his return to the party now would end the crisis bedeviling the state chapter of the APC and ready to work for the success of the party a all levels.

He said he had consulted widely before he returned to the party, saying that his return was based on advice given to him by some notable politicians in the country.

Oke hinted that his return to the APC was informed by the need to protect the interest of his supporters and for the development of Ondo State.

“This is not about me, but about the development of the state and the need to ensure the well-being of our people. I want to align and contribute my quota to the development of the state, instead of
sitting on the fence,” he said.

He said he received the nod from Tinubu, before his movement, just as he declared that he was “on the same page” with the governor, Mr. Akeredolu, on his decision to return to the party.

In his own address, the acting Chairman of the party, Engr Ade Adetimehin said “Permit me to state categorically here that the historic primary election that returned the incumbent Governor of the state as the APC gubernatorial candidate was free, fair and credible.

“It was keenly contested and there was no doctored list of delegates to favor the winner nor voting by non accredited or fictitious delegates as espoused by some divides of the party after the primaries

“The widely publicized and orchestrated rumor of foul play during the exercise were mere fabrications, distortion of fact and figment of imagination of some overzealous supporters and agents of destabilization who were pursing selfish agenda “.

Adetimehin stressed that the crisis and anti-party activities that followed the primary election was as a result of clueless and undisciplined of the former leadership of the  party.

He however said that the current leadership of the party would never allow political reckless to occur in the APC again.

Governor Akeredolu while speaking at the rally said there is room for everyone to come back to the party, adding that anyone who expresses willingness to come would be embraced.

The governor said there was no issue between him and Oke but for some rubblerouser who was keen to cause disaffection in the state, especially during the last election.

His words, “Sola is here today, he knows how close we are, he knows me and I know him very well. We should love each other.

“We are supposed to be clay, nobody can do it alone, the position we are today is by the grace of God. We don’t know how to do it, don’t let anybody boast, it just pleases God.

“We should forget about the past because there is no how we will not offend each other if we are aspiring for the same position but we have resolved our difference”.