Olugbenga Edema, who recently left the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), has turned down an invitation to rejoin the APC.
Edema, a former gubernatorial candidate with the APC, defected to the NNPP on Wednesday. He was one of the 15 aspirants who lost the APC governorship ticket to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
According to reports, Edema encountered Vice President Kashim Shettima and Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa at the Akure Airport while on his way to Abuja. During this meeting, Shettima, who was on a one-day working visit to Ado Ekiti, shook Edema’s hand and urged him to reconsider returning to the APC.
“I want you to come back home and take your rightful place where you belong,” he said swiftly.
But the NNPP governorship candidate shook his head and said he would let the people of Ondo State decide his fate.
He said, “It is too late. I will allow the people of Ondo State to determine who will be their next governor. There is no going back to the APC where I know there is no internal democracy.”
Edema and Ondo business tycoon Senator Jimoh Ibrahim were among the few candidates who rejected the results when Aiyedatiwa was declared the winner, citing allegations of irregularities and violence at some polling units.
Other dissenting candidates included Olusola Oke, Folakemi Omogoroye, Jimi Odimayo, and Wale Akinterinwa.