Ondo APC Primary Election: How El-Rufai, Fayemi, Fashola, others raised N1.6bn for Akeredolu to humiliate Tinubu

Facts have emerged on the roles played by the Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai; Minister for Solid Minerals, Dr Kayode Fayemi and Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola raised over N1.5 billion to ensure the emergence of Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) as the Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate.

Akeredolu polled 669 votes to defeat APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s anointed candidate, Mr Segun Abraham, who scored 635 votes in the keenly contested primary election held in Akure, Ondo State capital last Saturday.

Tinubu had declared support for Mr Segun Abraham, a decision that got other aspirants, especially Akeredolu miffed.

Apparently relying on the support of El-Rufai, Fayemi and Fashola, the former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) had boasted that outcome of the primary election would shocked Tinubu.

Multiple sources revealed to WazobiaReporter that Fayemi alone contributed over N700 million while Fashola and El-Rufai provided N450 million and N400 million respectively.

Fayemi was said to have particularly made up his mind to work against the emergence of Abraham just to pay Tinubu back for working against his (Fayemi) ministerial ambition.

“Fayemi does not hate Abraham, but he opted to fund Akeredolu just to show Tinubu he no longer enjoy the total control of the APC in the Southwest. He was the one who rallied El-Rufai and Fashola and conscripted them into what they latter termed; ‘operation stop Asiwaju.’

“El-Rufai acceded to Fayemi’s plot to stop Tinubu’s anointed candidates because of his 2019 presidential ambition and he operated clandestinely. Don’t forget that he needs Tinubu’s support to, but he is closer to the likes of Fayemi, Fashola, Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and others who have fell out with Tinubu,” a source said.

Meanwhile, the political camp of Tinubu, is said to be in disarray following the emergence of
Akeredolu as the governorship candidate of the APC.

It was learnt that the outcome of the primaries has strained the relationship between Tinubu and his
political confidant, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State. Many in the Tinubu’s political dynasty blamed the defeat of the APC leader’s anointed candidate, Abraham, on Aregbesola.

As at Friday, Tinubu was said to be confident that Abraham would emerge victorious with 805 votes.

Some of Tinubu’s associates believed that Aregbesola supported Oke with the understanding that Bola Ilori, his Special Adviser on Environment, would be made the deputy governorship candidate.