By Dayo Johnson

THE crisis over the choice of the All Progressive Congress, APC governorship candidate in Ondo State, weekend, deepened with the runner-up in the primaries, Dr Olusegun Abraham, weighing the option of seeking redress in court.

Segun Abraham

Sources close to him said he will, today, challenge in court the decision of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party to over-rule the Appeal Committee’s call for fresh primaries.

Abraham,yesterday, addressed a press conference on the decision of the NWC to over-rule the Appeal Committee report which called for a fresh election after discovering that the election was fraudulent.

This is coming as another aspirant, who came third in the primaries alleged to be fraudulently padded with fake delegates, Olusola Oke, is set to dump the party for the Action Alliance, AA, this week.

However, Abraham said: “The mandate belongs to me and we will reclaim it before October 19 when my name would be substituted. We have three levels to seek redress in the party and we have explored just one. We still have two other options. I will go to court if that is what it will take to right the wrong done by the NWC of the party. The submission of the NWC to recognize Akeredolu as the party’s candidate is undemocratic.’’

Asked to the clarify who the said fake delegates voted for, Abraham said, “no fake delegate voted for me. I was not part of the irregularities. I won the primary election.”

He declared that he would not dump the party for any reason noting, “I won’t abandon APC, I’ll ensure that my mandate is restored. How can a landlord abandon his house for strangers?’’

Speaking on their rejection of the NWC decision, Abraham and two other aspirants Olusola Oke and Ajayi Boroffice, on Friday said, “the three of us will ensure that the anomalies are corrected. Myself, Oke and Boroffice are key to success and failure of APC in the coming November 26 governorship election.’’

Akeredolu sues for peace

The winner of the primaries Rotimi Akeredolu, yesterday, thanked the NWC for the affirmation of his name and declared that: “It is the work of God. What can I say than to thank God who has done it again? .”

Akeredolu thanked “members of the NWC, especially APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and President Muhammadu Buhari for making sure that justice was done to all parties in dispute.

“I make bold to say to my co-aspirants in the APC, that we are all winners. No one is vanquished. We are all victors. None is a loser. I hold the ticket of the party in trust for all of you. I am not perfect. No one is. But I will make up for my imperfections by drawing from your collective strength.

…Jegede promises robust governance

Meanwhile, the Ondo State governorship candidate of the  PDP, Mr.  Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, yesterday, promised to use the experience he acquired in government for over seven years to make profound statements with governance, if elected.

Jegede said his position as an integral part of the current government in the state has given him an insight into what could be done to further raise the bar of governance beyond the high position the Dr Olusegun Mimiko-led government has driven it.

Speaking with newsmen in Akure, Jegede said the challenges of the time demand that the best hand is engaged to address them.

Jegede said he has perfected a blueprint for job creation , adding that he is determined to take bold steps in the drive towards making the state the preferred destination.

He said he will rely on his understanding of the state and its people as well as his experience as part of the administration for over seven years to identify targets and drive same.