Ondo 2024: We don’t have a Governor that was elected — Olusola Oke

Chief Olusola Oke, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Ondo State, says there is no “Governor that was elected ” in the state.

Oke, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN), stated this on Monday while announcing his intention to vie for the governorship ticket of the APC in the April 24 primary.

The two-time governorship candidate in the state noted that since the death of the former governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on December 26, 2023, there was no elected governor in the state.

Oke, while advising the state chairman of APC, Engr Ade Adetimehin on the management of the party, said: “You know we do not have a Governor, so you are both the Governor…

“We don’t have a Governor that was elected, we only have a Governor that became a Governor by reason of demise of Akeredolu.”

The governorship hopeful advised Adetimehin to brace up and take firm charge of the party structure in the state and governance.

Stating further, Oke said: “The leaders that were elected; one dies, one remains. Mr Chairman, be in-charge, establish your authority; don’t allow your mandate to be stolen and don’t allow your mandate to be compromised.”

However, Oke’s statement drew applause from the gathering, with some party faithful nodding as sign of testament to the outburst.

The Ilaje-born politician urged the leadership of the party to ensure a free and fair contest for all aspirants jostling for the ticket.

In his reaction, Sunday Abire, the Special Assistant on New Media to the Governor, advised political gladiators to be mindful of utterances that could undermine the position of the Governor of the State.

He said Oke’s intention was to diminish the fortune of the party in Ondo state by causing crisis and later “run under another party as he has always done.”

“For the records, it should serve as a current affairs update to Chief Olusola Alexander Oke that an ELECTED Governor who is known to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria exists in Ondo state and his name is Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, the 7th Civilian Governor of Ondo State,” Abire said.