Omololu Ogunmade
21 Jun 2012


After weeks of deliberations and speculations, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday endorsed former President of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, as its candidate for the October 22 governorship election in Ondo State.
The endorsement which took place at 3 am in the Ikoyi home of ACN’s national leader, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, followed several hours of meeting.

Following his selection, Akeredolu will be presented to the other 46 aspirants of the party today at the Governor’s Lodge on Isaac John Street, Ikeja, Lagos, where the party will equally solicit their support for the legal practitioner who was once the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Ondo State.

The party has also decided to formalise Akeredolu’s candidature by organising a primary in Ondo State next week, where he will be declared winner after which his name will be forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

THISDAY also learnt that some of the leading aspirants in the race, including Senator Ajayi Borrofice, who currently represents Ondo North senatorial district in the Senate, Dr. Olu Agunloye and Dr. Tunji Abayomi had been duly informed that Akeredolu would fly the party’s ticket at the forthcoming poll.

THISDAY checks revealed that in deciding on Akeredolu, several factors were put into consideration, which included the edge that Akoko area in the state has over Owo.

It was gathered that since the governorship ticket had been zoned to Ondo North which comprises Akoko and Owo, the party felt it would only be fair to give the governorship ticket to Owo because Akoko has produced the incumbent deputy governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, the senator representing the district, Boroffice, as well as the incumbent deputy speaker.

According to a source, the party settled for Akeredolu because of its conviction that being a former president of the NBA, he has all that it takes to win the governorship election, adding that he is also brilliant and has leveraged on the NBA presidency to extend his contacts at the local and international level.

THISDAY also learnt that besides his professional background, Akeredolu is believed to possess the mettle to confront the incumbent governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, who is considered a tactical and formidable politician.

THISDAY also learnt that some judges, including the suspended President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Isa Salami, prevailed on the ACN leadership to favour Akeredolu as its candidate.


http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/intrigues-as-acn-picks-akeredolu-as-ondo-governorship-candidate/118415/

including the suspended President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Isa Salami, prevailed on the ACN leadership to favour Akeredolu as its candidate.

Its better, personally akeredolu is ok and looking at zoning also. Now let's see mimiko vs akeredolu come october.

What of the other candidates?

Hmmm

I have been expecting this announcement for long. It's no surprise at all.

so what's the essence of the primaries? to fufill all righteousness?

Aketi 2012. Alagbaka Straight.

No wonder pdp suspended salami,they hv to consult him. so he has become an ACN man. Funny things like this only happen in naija

See brain. I don't like Tinubu but we have to agree that the guy is a brilliant and formidable strategist. He plays to win.He understands that the SW will only elect educated people with a good track record. Nice one.

The way he supported ACN when he was NBA president, i knew something wasn't right.

Well,i never expect the ACN to pick akeredolu cos the election is going to tate a new look come october.mimiko is a stuborn man and the best option to fight such is to use a very popular candidate which i know such candidate is Dr Agunloye.people are already waiting for the man to be announce and see mimiko downfall.By population, Agunloye has 4 local government to win even if he dont campaign.well akeredolu has the charisma to be in the position but i think the present governor will now see the game as a open field game now.

i dey laugh.

He's still no match for Mimiko tho. .

Though I like Akeredolu, but why can't CAN ever conduct a primary election. Na so so pick pick.

Anybody still rooting for Justice Salami's reinstatement as Appeal Court president should have his head checked. The man is a useless thief and a shameless stooge of Bola Tinubu.

I believe the race is now open for the two candidates,Akeredolu is another powerful force to be reckon with in Ondo state,having being the NBA chairman and performed wonderfully.I believe he will surely give that man call Iroko a tough time.Let wait and watch

we can see the much talked about internal democracy in ACN.

abujub: No wonder pdp suspended salami,they hv to consult him. so he has become an ACN man. Funny things like this only happen in naija

Where is it in the report that ACN consulted Salami?

seyijumbo: I believe the race is now open for the two candidates,Akeredolu is another powerful force to be reckon with in Ondo state,having being the NBA chairman and performed wonderfully.I believe he will surely give that man call Iroko a tough time.Let wait and watch

really?

Yellow journalism. Thisday stop lying. Justice Salami have no hand in this.

Now, this is the reason why ACN will not rule Nigeria. Every matter must be taking to their "god" called Tinubu. Imagine, deciding the faith of Ondo ACN chapter in his house. ACN is a one man matter and there is nothing democratic in them. Ondo state citizens, now you have a candidate chosen by ACN commander in chief and not state party members. He stays in Lagos and knows who and what is best for u. What should we expect from someone had picked to rule:
1. pay homage to his god that choose him tru state fund or what other means legally or illegally.
2. turn lagos to his office cause he can rule from anywhere(thanks to Abati for this insight).
3. work to gain the approval of his master in lagos so that he can be endorsed for second term.
4. have his commissioners' names handed over to him from lagos just as the case of osun state where a commissioner has not being in the state since its creation.
5. all contractors from oga in lagos automatically qualify for contracts why Ondo state indigenous contractors will be adviced to have a Lagos address on their letter before they can be considered at all (happened to a friend in osun state

this zoning issues are downgrading democracy.
the best candidates are left on queue.
this is underdeveloping our development

duality: we can see the much talked about internal democracy in ACN.

Yes oo. We can see it.

PDP = ACN

if them like make them pick Tinubu as candidate,all i know is Mimiko is the man of the people...and no one can beat him in this race!

who are the PDP and CPC candidates?

This is the problem with Nigeria. Akeredolu a lawyer who is supposed to know better is also allowing Mr Tinubu to manipulate him. Why cant they have the primaries as being expected in a democratic set-up instead of handpicking that is killing ACN. It Is SAD!!!!

With track records on ground agunloye has been closed to the grassroot people than any of the candidates.when he was in the power and still ministry he did the same thing in helping the citizens.79% of ondo state guys who got employment to them road safety commission got it true this same agunloye.akeredolu is also good as a man to rule the state come next but he does not hav the popularity needed to fight out the present governor who is really despirate to return to office outside been the MBA once president. well from my own point of view,i see him as the greatest threat to the present governor.

For God's sake, nigerians are soooo gullible. where the hell was it stated as an official announcement by ACN? who is the author of the report? dont u think someone with an ulterior motive can write anything to discredit a rival....na wa oooo. Nigerians with fish brains (spits)

Akeredolu as a former NBA president and lawyer, should call for proper primaries.