The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje, has dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu influenced the victory of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in the Ondo State governorship election.
Ganduje gave the dismissal on Wednesday when he received the Ondo governor and his deputy, Adelami Olaide, with their Certificates of Return at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja.
He asserted that Aiyedatiwa’s victory was made possible by the entire people of the state, who voted en masse for the governor across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state.
The former Kano State Governor added that the victory recorded by the governor in 202 out of 203 wards spoke volumes of the level of acceptability of APC in the state.
He said, “There was no subterranean support from any quarters. No external influence from the government, the Presidency or any other external forces. The election is not the efforts of the elite alone. It is not the efforts of the middle class alone, it is the efforts of also the grassroots alone.
“This must be an issue that was embraced by all. You enjoyed the support of the state electorate. We have to congratulate you on this landslide victory. I know Ondo people are progressives which was why they will cooperate with you”.
Earlier, Ayedatiwa said he thought it fit to come and thanked the party leadership for the support extended to him before, during, and after the election.