The All Progressives Congress candidate for Ondo East/Ondo West Federal Constituency, Michael Akintomide, has appealed to aggrieved party members to end protests over the party’s candidates list and unite ahead of next year’s general election.
Some APC members recently staged protests in Akure over the National Assembly candidates list released by the party’s national secretariat and submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Supporters of the lawmaker representing Ondo East/Ondo West Federal Constituency, Abiola Makinde, also protested the omission of his name from the list.
Speaking with journalists in Ondo on Friday, Akintomide dismissed concerns that the protests could affect the party’s electoral chances, describing the dispute as an internal matter that would be resolved.
“There is no need for agitation. The National Working Committee has spoken, and there is party supremacy. Whatever is being said on social media that is contrary to the party’s position should be ignored,” he said.
Akintomide urged party members not to participate in the protests, expressing confidence in the candidate selection process.
He said post-primary disagreements were common in politics and insisted that members would eventually put the party’s interests above personal ambitions.
“The APC has done so much for this country that we cannot afford to lose the forthcoming election. We will all come together as one eventually and emerge victorious,” he said, adding that he was confident President Bola Tinubu would secure re-election next year.
Also speaking, the APC candidate for Irele/Okitipupa Federal Constituency, Jimi Odimayo, called on party members to support all candidates produced through the primaries.
Odimayo said the APC remained united despite differences that emerged during the nomination process.
He commended President Bola Tinubu, the party’s National Working Committee and the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for their roles in the primary process and urged members to work together to ensure the party’s success in the elections.
“We have a fantastic relationship. It’s one family,” Odimayo said.
