Consensus primary mode, the best for APC – Gov Ododo

By Jude Opara, Abuja

Ahmed Usman Ododo, the governor of Kogi state and Chairman of the Ekiti governorship primary election has declared that the consensus mode of primary is the best, adding that it has come to stay in the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The governor spoke on Wednesday after he submitted his report from the Ekiti state governorship primary election which returned Governor Biodun Oyebanji as the consensus candidate of the party in the 2026 governorship election in the state.

He argued that the process was very peaceful and stress free because all the party stakeholders agreed to put forward a consensus candidate, which in this case was the incumbent governor.

Ododo attributed the successes recorded by the party to the leadership style of President Bola Tinubu, whom he described as a sincere father and leader that always leads from the front.

“What we are witnessing today and the exercise we have gone to Ekiti state to do that we are celebrating it, being the first of its kind, it is because we have a sincere father, a sincere leader that is leading from the front sincerely.

“History has been made in Ekiti state; for the first time under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC have laid this template, consensus mode of primary election. Most of us don’t even know what it means and I’ll tell you as it is today, the issue of litigation, no crisis, no fighting, no destruction, no waste of resources.

The governor further reiterated the resolve of most APC stakeholders to wholeheartedly work for the re-election of President Tinubu in the 2027 election.

“We cannot thank him enough, we will continue to pray for him and of course I want to assure Mr. President that we the children, we are with him, we are by him, we are praying for him and we are working and ready to carry this mantra of leadership of peace to the grassroots and of course I want to stress it that with what Mr. President is doing today for us in Nigeria, he doesn’t need to stress himself, come 2027 we will be at the forefront to drive that process”.

He also lauded the National Chairman of the APC, Prof. Nantawe Yilwatda for his leadership style; adding that he has laid a template and a foundation that the entire nation and even other political parties will come to copy.

“Ekiti have saved a lot of resources for development and of course I know the party will build on this legacy and of course whether you like me or not, you cannot talk about that process that your blood, your mind will not stream through the chairman and the members of the committee that run that process.

“What we are celebrating today is the handwork of Mr. President. I want to thank him most sincerely and I want to assure him that the entire nation is with him, we are praying for him and of course we will deliver for him 100%”, he concluded.