Ondo: Governorship Ticket Must Not Be Given As Compensation — APC Female Aspirant

A female governorship aspirant at the All Progressive Congress (APC) primary for the Ondo State gubernatorial race, Mrs Funmilayo Waheed-Adekojo, has said that the party’s ticket should be by merit and not be given as compensation.

Equally, the party’s ticket should not be given based on arbitrary zoning, she said but rather through the competence of the aspirant to change the narrative in the state.

The aspirant, who addressed newsmen on Friday in Akure the capital of Ondo state ahead of the governorship primary election, said that the concept of zoning to pick governors in states had failed to produce the desired outcome.

According to her, it now behoves on the party to allow the most qualified candidate to emerge through a competitive electoral process

“Without mincing words, this concept of rotation has regrettably, become a hindrance to progress. One of its errors is that it prioritises political permutation over meritocracy and competence.

“As the party’s governorship primary election approaches to elect the party’s flag bearer, the major focus should be to present outstanding and visionary individuals with a proven track record of excellence and integrity in both public and private sector.

“I readily come in handy for our great party, APC, to produce the first female elected governor in Nigeria,” she said.

Mrs Waheed-Adekojo, who said that Ondo State desperately needed more women in governance, said the state’s political institutions could not grow when half the population was being left behind.

“So, the governorship ticket should not be given as compensation or based on arbitrary zoning arrangement.

“But on an assurance of the capacity of the candidate to provide visionary and inclusive governance that will help in wealth creation, agricultural, rural and human capital development.

“Let us unlock the full potential of our dear state by embracing a model that priorities merit, competence, character and capacity, not a zoning arrangement that has failed.

“So, I am in the race to raise the standard of living of people of the state, and to save the party from losing Ondo State to the other party in the coming election,” she said.

The Ondo State APC governorship primary, which is by direct mode of voting, is slated for Saturday, April 20 in the 203 wards in the state.

NAN