THE governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, on Saturday, insisted that there was no going back on the adoption of the candidature of Hon Adekunle Akinlade, as the governorship candidate of the Party in the 2019 elections.

Amosun said this while addressing leaders and members of the party from Ogun East, who had earlier endorsed Akinlade as the consensus candidate of the party, at the Government House,  Oke Igbein, Abeokuta.

He explained to the meeting which had in attendance members of the State Executive of the party led by its chairman,  Chief Derin Adebiyi, chairmen of the three senatorial districts in the state and other stakeholders that the party allowed for zoning of elective posts and consensus process.

Amosun also added that the remaining 40 elective positions from the deputy governor, the National Assembly and State House of Assembly had been allocated, saying the lists of candidates for these positions would be made available on Monday.

Just as the party announced the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs Peju Adebajo, as the deputy governorship candidate of the party.

He, however, said that the party would explore direct primaries if the consensus fails,  but maintained that all positions are been filled through consensus process.

“Our party allows for consensus candidate. For us in APC, we already have our candidate. In all positions, we are going to have consensus candidates. However, anybody that wants to do otherwise should come out for the direct primaries.

“We have allocated all the 40 elective positions through the same process. We have zoned the position of governor to Ogun West and it is only Ogun West that can bring forward their candidate which they have done and acceptable by us.

“The entire Ogun State is in unison. We have adopted Akinlade as our candidate and there is no going back. The people of Ogun State are not fools. They have known those who served them better. Our party will carry the day in the forthcoming elections. Anybody that wants to do otherwise will find themselves to blame. This matter is too hot for them to handle. We have our register and we will demonstrate to the people of Nigeria that we have a way of doing things here called “Ogun Standard,” and we are going to maintain it,” the governor insisted.

Earlier, the Ogun East Senatorial District chairman, Alhaji Bayo Yakub, said the decision of the party is binding on all its members, saying no single individual can be superior to the party.

“The party is supreme. Nobody is superior than the party. The decision of the party is binding on every member, and so we are here today to adopt the candidature of Hon Adekunle Akinlade has the choice of the party in the next gubernatorial election,” Yakub said.

In his own remarks, Adebiyi said his exco implemented the decision of the previous executive under the leadership of Alhaji Tajudeen Lemboye, on the zoning of governorship slot to Ogun West.

The motion for the adoption of Hon. Akinlade who is currently serving as the lawmaker representing Yewa South/Ipokia in the House of Representatives was moved by a former council chairman,  Hon. Tunde Oladunjoye and was seconded by the majority leader of the House of Assembly, Hon. Yinka Mafe.

Meanwhile, four governorship aspirants from Ogun East, have picked their expression of interest and nomination forms,  despite the purported consensus arrangement.

They are former deputy governor of Ogun State,  Senator Adegbenga Kaka; the chairman of the Corporate Affairs Commission, Prince Dapo Abiodun, the Special Adviser on Investment Promotion to the Governor of Kaduna State,  Mallam Nasir El-Rufia, Mr Jimi Lawal and Architect Owodunni Opayemi.