I will give women topmost priority, says Rotimi Akeredolu

• Dismisses plan to ditch APC for ZLP
• APC screens 101 chairmanship aspirants for council poll

TRACKING____The Ondo State government has reiterated its commitment towards women inclusion in governance in fulfilment of the 35 percent affirmative action.

Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Olugbenga Ale, said this at a press conference in Akure yesterday to showcase the achievement of the present administration in the last three years.

“It was that bad that only very few women were actively participating in politics before this administration came on board. But it changed immediately we came on board. We now have a lot of women in position now,” he said. He dispelled insinuations that the governor was planning to ditch All Progressives Congress (APC) for Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) to realise his re-election bid, saying that his relationship with the former governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, was devoid of politics.

Meanwhile, the ruling APC in the state has begun the screening of all the local council aspirants contesting under the party’s platform in the April 18, 2020 council election in the state. Chairman of the party, Ade Adetimehin, while welcoming the aspirants to the screening at the party’s secretariat in Akure yesterday, said that the exercise would be free and fair to all aspirants

Adetimehin, who also doubles as the chairman of the screening committee, reiterated the position of the party to conduct a credible primary, saying it would be an open exercise, which the most popular candidate would emerge as the party’s flag-bearer.

“This screening exercise is meant to unite the party and not divide us. If anyone is having any misgiving about the exercise, he is to approach the party to address it as the party would not condone unruly actions contrary to the party’s regulations guiding the exercise.”

He, therefore, advised aspirants to remain committed to the party even if they fail to achieve their ambition this time, and urging the winners to see the screening exercise as a party affair and an opportunity to call to service if elected.

The APC chairman also admonished aspirants to see themselves as true representatives of their people, saying that more opposition leaders and members of the PDP in the state would be received into APC in a rally in few weeks’ time.