By; ODEYEMI SAMUEL, Akure.
The Forum of State Chairmen of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South West Zone has backed its embattled Chairman in Ondo State, Isaac Kekemeke, calling for calm among APC members in the state.
The Forum, in a statement said it would not support the idea of calling for a new chairman at this critical time because Kekemeke had worked hard for the party’s popularity across the state.
The statement was jointly signed by the chairmen in the five other states in the zone: Chiefs Oladele Ajomale (Lagos), Akin Oke (Oyo), Gboyega Famodun (Osun), Jide Awe (Ekiti) and Roqeeb Adeniji (Ogun) and the Zonal Secretary, Mr. Ayo Afolabi.
It expressed concern about the crisis and appealed to members not to allow the fifth columnists to infiltrate the party with the aim of preventing it from winning the forthcoming election.
Allaying the fears that the primary may be manipulated in favour of any particular governorship aspirant, the forum emphasised that Kekemeke would not have any role to play in the primary because the party’s national leadership would conduct it.
“We like to state that the party will conduct a free, fair, open and credible primary election devoid of any interference from any quarters as was done in Kogi and Edo states.
“The state party chairman has no role whatsoever to play in the process and conduct of the primary election as the team to conduct the primary will be put together by our party’s national headquarters.
“Up till now, Kekemeke had performed creditably well in mobilising the party. He and his state executive had increased and expanded the party’s acceptance to the generality of the people of Ondo State. The party will, therefore, not be favourably disposed to any clamour for the change of its structure and leadership at this critical time.
“We appeal to all our party members and the governorship aspirants in particular to remain calm, prevail on their individual supporters to allow peace to reign for the conduct of a transparent primary election that will usher in a candidate that will be acceptable to the generality of the people of Ondo State,” the statement read.
