Ondo Reps Bye-Election: Gov Akeredolu Has Not Told Me To Withdraw—Olajide

A House of Representatives aspirant for Akure North/South federal constituency, Hon Sunday Olajide has denied rumour that he has stepped down from the race on the instruction of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

The lawmaker who represents Akure South constituency two in the House of Assembly said the governor has not told any of the aspirants to withdraw from the race.

Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had fixed Feb. 26 as the date for the election following the vacant seat of Akure North/South federal constituency after the death of late Adedayo Omolafe of PDP last year.

However, no fewer than nine aspirants in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) including Olajide have obtained nomination and expression of interest form from the party ahead of the February 26 election.

Olajide said Governor Akeredolu is aware of his interest in the House of Representatives seat and has not told him to withdraw for any of the aspirants jostling for the sole ticket of the party.

His words “I have talked to leaders and statutory delegates. I have consulted widely. I have marketed myself to the delegates. A good number of them are familiar with me.I contested in 2015 and 2019. I am confident of getting he party’s ticket.”

However, Olajide said if the governor and leaders of the party ask him to withdraw, he would not hesitate to obey them.

The lawmaker said “it is a blatant lie. that Mr. Governor told me to step down. He has not at any time told me to withdraw from the race.

“I am sure that Mr. Governor has not told anybody to withdraw. He invited all of us and discussed with us the need for us to prune down the number of aspirants to a manageable size so that at the end of the day we can work together so that whoever emerges will get the support of others.

“Whoever has insinuated that Mr. Governor has told me to withdraw is doing that in the figment of his or her imagination. The Governor has not said that

“People who are not on my side are spreading such lies. If the Governor and the party say I should withdraw, I will gladly do that. But as we speak, Mr. Governor as the leader of the party has not told me to withdraw.

“He has supported me to the position I am today, if he says I should withdraw, why not? I have made my intention known to me and he has not told me to withdraw.”