Ahead of the governorship election in Ondo state, Timilehin Adelegbe, a member representing Owo/Ose federal constituency at the National Assembly, maintains that his former colleague at the House of Representatives, Mayowa Akinfolarin, will win most of the local government areas in the state.
Adelegbe, who is the Director-General (DG) of the Mayowa Akinfolarin campaign organization, stated this while the campaign train visited Akure South/North local government area of the state.
According to him, the APC governorship aspirant will win at least 10 local government areas out of the 18, saying, “Akinfolarin has over ten local governments in his kitty and has touched the lives of people across the state.”
Adelegbe expressed optimism that the former Deputy Speaker in the state will win the party’s primary slated for April and enjoined other aspirants in the race not to delay in congratulating Akinfolarin as the candidate of the party.
He revealed that Mayowa Akinfolarin is the only APC governorship aspirant who can boast of winning in almost all the local council areas in next month’s primary election.
He maintained that the frontline aspirant is the most qualified person among the governorship aspirants due to his diverse experience with visionary leadership skills and having contested seven times and won five times in election contests.
His words: “All the aspirants should be able to assess themselves, who among them can boast of winning one local government?
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“For instance, in Ilaje local government, is it Lucky Aiyedatiwa or Olusola Oke that can boast of winning the LG where they both came from?
“In Okitipupa LG, who among the contestants has that place, none of them! Five aspirants are contesting from that local government and none of them can win the LG.
“But as I speak, I know Mayowa Akinfolarin has about ten local governments. Primary election is not about the crowd but personalities.”
He predicted that Akinfolarin will win Odigbo, Owo, Ose, Akoko North-East, Akoko North-West, Akoko South-East, Akoko South-West among others.
The lawmaker said, “As of today, among the aspirants, he’s the most qualified because of his experience in governance. His antecedents in politics have been long enough to earn him that experience. He had contested elections on seven occasions and won five times.
“He was at the Ondo State House of Assembly for eight years, he was in the National Assembly for eight years, that’s not a joke. When he was in the national assembly, he was our caucus leader and I know he has character and integrity.
“Aside from these, he has been a Director in various parastatals, he was a deputy speaker in the Ondo Assembly.
“To me, we need a politician who has this experience. He’s grounded in politics and as we speak today, he’s the most qualified person to take the mantle of leadership.
“More importantly, the state is very polarized now, we need somebody who can unify the party and the state politically and in governance, and Akinfolarin is the best person in a position to do that.”
Speaking at the event, Mayowa Akinfolarin called on APC members to focus on voting for a candidate with quality and capacity, saying he knew how best to make people enjoy the dividends of democracy, an attribute that other contestants lack.
The chairman of the party in Ifedore council area, Tunde Fakuyi, and other leaders assured Akinfolarin of members’ support in their respective council areas towards becoming the candidate of the party.