Southwest APC Elders’ meeting rose from a crucial meeting in Lagos on Friday with a number of resolutions.
The most significant of the resolutions was that every aspirant for elective office in the forthcoming general elections, including Presidency, from South West, was free to run.
Although the meeting of the elders with presidential, gubernatorial and National Assembly aspirants from the zone was held behind closed doors, sundry media reports confirmed that the leaders resolved that every aspirants had a right to contest.
Other resolutions arrived at at the meeting included: the call on the aspirants to put an end to name-callings and other personal attacks, which they said should no longer be encouraged by aspirants and their supporters.
According to reports, “the issue of betrayal was put to rest as the elders affirmed that everyone who desires to run for any political office whatsoever is not encumbered in any way at all.”
The reports said that the leaders and the aspirants all agreed to conduct a rancour-free campaign.
The meeting had been convened by the first Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande and a former Governor of Ogun state, Chief Segun Osoba, both of whom served as Co-Conveners.
Present at the meeting were the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, former Lagos State Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi.
Also at the meeting, apart from the aspirants were the former Governor of Lagos State and Works and Housing Minister Mr Babatunde Fashola, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief Niyi Adebayo, Governors Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state and Governor Oyetola of Osun state.
Others included former Osun State Governor and Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola and the APC National Secretary Otunba Iyiola Omisore.
While commending the Vice-president, being the highest ranking public officer from South West extraction for a job well done, sources at the meeting disclosed that the APC elders stated categorically that all the aspirants had the right to aspire to be President.
But, they enjoined all aspirants to exhibit the ‘Omoluabi’ ethos in their politicking by shunning divisive rhetoric.
It was also resolved that consultations with them would be a continuous exercise, even as the meeting admonished the aspirants to queue behind whoever among them that eventually emerges as the party’s candidate (s) for various elections, stating that the cohesion of the South West must be sacrosanct.
Stay ahead with the latest updates! Join The ConclaveNG on WhatsApp and Telegram for real-time news alerts, breaking stories, and exclusive content delivered straight to your phone. Don’t miss a headline — subscribe now!
