Kekemeke Now Ondo APC State Chairman

Former Secretary to the Ondo State Government, Hon. Isaac Kekemeke has emerged as the State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Kekemeke, who served under the administration of late Dr. Olusegun Agagu, won the peaceful congress with close margin of 499 votes beating the runner up, Engr. Ade Adetimehin with two

points.

The seat was contested by five aspirants including, Bar. Sola Iji, Prof. Wole Aderounmu, Kekemeke, Adetimehin and Prof. Abiodun.

Security was beefed up by the Nigeria Police led by the Area commander of Akure Police Division, Edward Ajogun who was present at the congress venue, at multi-purpose hall of B-kay building in Akure, the State Capital.

Addressing reporters shortly after the poll, the State Chairman of the Congress Committee, Femi Pedro, described the event as successful. Pedro, who was former Deputy governor of Lagos State said over 1,070 delegates from the 18 local governments and 303 wards in the state participated in the congress after they were dully accredited.

According to him, “the congress was hotly contested by five candidates but there were two major candidates. The winner, Hon. Kekemeke got 499 votes and the person who came second and has been with the party since the days of AD, scored 497 votes.

“You can see the closeness, but it was conducted in the presence of over a thousands party delegates, over hundreds of Police and 10 INEC officials.

 “Though, there were arguments before the commencement of the congress but we were able to resolve the issues. This is usual and accepted in a political gathering, but you know APC, we know how to handle our issues”. On other elected positions in the party, Pedro said there was consensus arrangement for other State executives post, which he said had been zoned.

He added that elections would only come for any post if the people fail to agree on a choice of candidate.

Pedro noted that with the emergence of new executives for APC in the state, Governor Olusegun Mimiko has been placed on the hot seat.

The new APC State chairman, Kekemeke described his victory as a new dawn for the party in the State. He noted that It was a change for APC in the State, adding that the party is now ready to send out the ruling Labour Party (LP) in the state.

He promised to visit all aggrieved members of the party in the 18 local government areas in the state in order to unite all warring members of the party.

However, there was wide jubilation immediately the former SSG was announced winner of the congress. APC loyalists trooped to the main road of Akure-Ilesha expressway, dancing and singing. They said this will be the first time defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) which emerged with CPC and ANPP will be getting it right in the state.

The Special Adviser to Governor of Osun State on Environmental Sanitation, Hon. Bola Ilori urged the new chairman to unite all the aggrieved members.

Ilori said internal democracy had come to stay in APC in the state, adding that it is now the duty of the new Chairman to ensure unity of his members.

As at the time of filing this report, names of the elected State executive members for other posts were yet to be released.