The Ogun chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday resolved to adopt consensus primaries to select candidates for the 2019 elections.
The decision was reached at a stakeholders’ meeting held in Abeokuta where it was also agreed that the party would resort to direct primaries where consensus candidates could not emerge.
The resolve followed a motion moved by Hon. Yinka Mafe, the Majority Leader of the state House of Assembly and supported by the Chairman of Yewa-North Local Government Area, Kayode Abiola.
The motion, which came after protracted discussion, was thereafter unanimously adopted by the stakeholders.
Gov. Ibikunle Amosun, who was at the meeting, seized the opportunity to formally declare his intention to run for Ogun Central Senatorial District seat.
On the selection process, the governor said elders and leaders of the party in the various councils would meet with the aspirants before deciding on consensus candidates.
Amosun added that he would on Thursday personally meet with governorship aspirants from Ogun West Senatorial District to agree on a consensus governorship candidate for the party.
The party’s ticket for the governorship seat may have been zoned to Ogun West District.
In his opening remarks, the state Chairman of the party, Chief Derin Adebiyi, noted that the meeting was in conformity with the resolution of APC’s National Executive Council.
The national body had resolved that state chapters of the party were to determine their mode of primaries after a stakeholders’ meeting.
On his part, Sen. Lanre Tejuosho representing Ogun Central Senatorial District apologised to the party over his earlier defection to the rival Peoples Democratic Party.
The apology followed a threat by Adebiyi to send him out of the meeting if he failed to officially retract his action and apologise to the party.
Tejuosho thereafter said: “I apologise to our APC members who feel offended because I expressed myself.’’