Leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in South West geo-political zone on Thursday declared that President Muhammadu Buhari has not informed them he will re-contest in the 2019 general elections.
The APC stalwarts shortly after a stakeholders’ meeting held behind closed doors at the Executive Chamber in the Governor’s office, Secretariat Ibadan, remarked that any one who was qualify for the post was free to contest.
Former Interim National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande who spoke on behalf of other leaders of the party shortly after the meeting insisted that the President was yet to brief them if he will be re-contesting in the elections.
Akande, however, assured that the leaders of the party in the zone will have no option than to support and work for him (Buhari) if he was lucky to have the ticket of the party in 2019.
Speaking further, Akande remarked that the leaders were ready for the next year’s governorship elections in both Osun and Ekiti states.
He said that the party was poised to have Ekiti back in the APC fold in 2018.
The ex-Governor of Osun state said that “The President has not told us he will re-contest in 2019.
“Anybody in our party is free to contest. If he is lucky to have the ticket, then we will have no reason than to support the President.
“Definitely, we are poised to have Ekiti state back to APC.”
Present at the meeting as reported earlier in DAILY POST on Thursday are the host, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and his counterparts from Osun, Ondo and Lagos, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu and Akinwumi Ambode respectively.
Others include former Governors of Ekiti State Chief Adeniyi Adebayo; Minister for Mines and Steel Dr. Kayode Fayemi and Senator Olusola Adeyeye.
Also in attendance at the meeting were Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives Hon. Lasun Yusuff; Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Claudus Daramola; Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba; Minister for Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu and former Governor of Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Alao Akala.
