‘President has no preferred candidate for Ondo elections,’ SGF says

Lawal also said that the government would deal severely with anyone who attempts to breach the peace during the All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship primaries in Ondo.

“The government of President Muhammadu Buhari wishes to reiterate that it has no preferred candidate among the 24 aspirants and that government would do all in its power to provide a level-playing field for all the aspirants,” Lawal said according to The Cable.

“We expect that all the aspirants will work hard to win the votes of delegates. In the tradition of APC, we expect that there will be no inducement of delegates or coercion.

“We understand that tension is high due to some underlying factors. The national working committee (NWC) of the party has assured the government and we believe them that everything will be done to ensure that elections are free and fair, and we know that no official of the party would do anything to give undue advantage to any aspirant over others.

“Government will come hard on anyone that does anything that in any way jeopardises the peace and security of Ondo state,” he added after a meeting with all APC governorship aspirants in the state.

ALSO READ: Chaos in Ondo APC over chairmanship position

The Ondo APC has been rocked by crisis due to claims that APC National Leader, Bola Tinubu is planning to impose a candidate to represent the party in the November elections.