As the All Progressives Congress presidential primary approaches, Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has denied reports that he has endorsed a specific candidate for the party's ticket.
Akeredolu stated that he had not endorsed any of the candidates mentioned in the report, calling it a lie. He stated that all he wanted was for the party to select a southerner as its flagbearer.
This was stated in a statement issued by the governor's Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde.
This was stated in a statement issued by the governor's Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde.
The intention of the report's author, according to the statement, was to drag the governor into "unnecessary declarations, despite public knowledge of his position as Chairman of the Southern Governors' Forum."
"Nonetheless, Governor Akeredolu has continued to reiterate the stance of his brother governors in the Southern Nigeria Governors' Forum on the need for the south to produce the country's next president in the spirit of equity and fairness," He said.
“In clear terms, the widely circulated statement never emanated from Governor Akeredolu. It was, obviously, driven by overzealous partisan interests calculated to exploit the political capital of the Governor for personal gains.
“We, however, urge members of the public, particularly members of the APC and the party supporters, to disregard the statement as it does not represent the collective decision of the Southern Governors’ Forum which Governor Akeredolu leads.
“Succinctly, Governor Akeredolu as a leader and stakeholder in the Southern Presidency agitation, is committed to the interest of the Southern Nigeria geo-political zone. He will not descend into an arena of partisanship to jeopardise the interest of the forum he leads.”
