A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Chief Olusola Oke, has denied reports that he is planning to dump the ruling party and return to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
He made this known to reporters in Akure, the Ondo state capital after attending a meeting with the leadership of the Unity forum group of the APC.
The first runner up in the gubernatorial primary election held on Monday also denied rumours that he plans to leave the party over his loss to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and the political saga in the state.
Oke, however, acknowledged and commended the overtures made by the governor towards him and the unity group, but stated that he and the group will only accept the move for reconciliation if it is genuine and involve the national leadership of the party.
He noted that the group has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Governor Akeredolu to state his terms of reconciliation and lay on the table what he has for the aggrieved groups.
Oke said “We have resolved that we remain members of the APC in Ondo State and our respective wards and that we are interested in a cohesive, united APC where there would be no disconnection, where all members will be treated as equal, where government patronages will no longer be sectional and right and privileges of members will be respected without hindrance.
“We agreed that it is not in the interest of any member of the party for this party to slide into the hand of opposition and therefore unless unavoidable. We will do everything possible on our part, subject to the condition and terms that will be given out to retain the party in power in Ondo State.
“We also agreed that the incumbent governor representing team Aketi has made overtures to us for discussion for reconciliation and our team will be ready to participate in any reconciliation efforts, genuinely undertaken by the party leadership from the national secretariat to the zone and to the state”
Oke stated further that “the view and decision of the party that any reconciliation that will be acceptable will be the one initiated as he has done and will be in line with the participation of the national leadership of the party.”
