Seven APC aspirants for governor who competed against Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on April 20 as part of the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial ticket are supporting the incumbent governor, Aiyedatiwa.

About one month after the state’s shadow primary, which took place in advance of the November 16 governorship election, the candidates announced their support for the governor.

Among the candidates are Morayo Lebi, Dayo Faduyile, Soji Ehinlanwo, Diran Iyantan, Funmilayo Waheed-Adekojo, Mayowa Akinfolarin, and Jimi Odimayo.

They urged party members to embrace unity rather than letting the results of the shadow primary drive rifts inside the organization.

The seven candidates issued a statement stating that all true party members should be focused on the party’s triumph in the upcoming governorship elections.

Read also: Why I Wept – ID Cabasa ID Cabasa On Olamide’s Departure From His Record Label 

“We, the under-listed chieftains of our party, the APC, who were aspirants in the just-concluded Governorship Primary, wish to call on all members of our party who have a genuine interest in the success of the party in the forthcoming general election in November to embrace peace for a resounding victory in the polls.

“The party position is that His Excellency Lucky Aiyedatiwa is our gubernatorial candidate; this position should be sacrosanct to us all, even when some of us have expressed some reservations.

“We acknowledge that perfection is a moving target. As party leaders who have significantly contributed to nurturing the party to impressive growth, we cannot allow anything that could lead to the polarisation of our party, with the potential consequence of undermining unity within our party.

“We therefore call on our supporters and all stakeholders to put aside personal interests and allow the overriding interests of the party to take precedence.”

Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has left the biggest opposition party.

Ayedokun bemoaned the tainted views of the party’s founding members in a resignation letter he sent to the National Chairman of the party via the chairmen of the ward, local government, and state.

The party’s former deputy national chairman also declared his intention to join the All Progressives Congress, or APC, which is currently in power.

Read also:My Wife and Her Friends Attacked And Flogged Me at Home – Oritsefemi

He said that the ruling party would value and appreciate his leadership responsibilities, efforts, and experience more.

The letter says, in part, “I have the honour in announcing the renunciation of my party membership on principle, having observed that the ideals of we, founding members, had been sorely contaminated.

“In taking this step which is not even without due consultation with my teaming loyalists in the PDP.

“I have decided to shift my allegiance to the All Progressives Congress, APC, where I believe my experience, efforts and leadership roles would be valued and appreciated.”

Senator Magnus Abe, an influential politician in the All Progressives Congress (APC), recently described Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as a significant figure in President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

But he made it clear that the former governor of Rivers State was not an APC member.

During his appearance on Politics Today on Channels Television, Abe described how he persuaded Wike to collaborate with Tinubu.

The APC leader declared: “I’m comfortable working with Wike. I did everything to convince Wike as governor then, to work for Tinubu in Rivers State.

“Wike is my friend. Today, he is working in the APC government as a minister. We must work together.”

Read also: Benue APC Rift Deepens as Agada and Omakolo Factions Reignite Feud

When asked if Wike was now an APC member, Abe responded, “Wike is a minister in the APC government, not an APC member.”