By Adekola Afolabi
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The Majority Leader of the Ondo State House of Assembly and House of Representatives aspirant for Akoko North-East/North-West Federal Constituency in the 2019 general elections, Hon.  Olugbenga Araoyinbo, has said that he was not contemplating leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC) even if he did not get the Reps ticket at the end of day.

He however expressed optimism that he would surely get the party ticket to contest for the Federal House of Representatives, explaining that the Appeal Panel set up by the National Leadership of the party to look into various petitions arising from the recently conducted primaries of the party has confirmed his candidacy.

Araoyinbo, a lawmaker representing Akoko North-West State Constituency 2 in the hallowed chambers, asserted that there is still enough time for the substitution of names and that his name will eventually appear on the INEC final list.

He described APC as a party which  believes in the rule of law, equality and justice and will do the needful by presenting his name to INEC as flag bearer of the party for the Federal House of Representatives.

The lawmaker insisted that he won the Reps primary contrary to the claim that he lost to another aspirant.

According to him, after the outcome of primary, he petitioned the Appeal Committee of the party to express his grievances in line with the party’s laid down rules.

The Majority Leader explained that he was happy that the Appeal Committee has graciously upheld his election as the winner of the primary.

Araoyinbo, however, said he would not leave the party for whatever reason, saying he was in the party to add value to it.

He noted that he remained committed to the APC, and he saw no reason he should quit the party.

He stated further that as aggrieved aspirants, the best thing to do is to channel their grievances through the Appeal Panel set up by the National Leadership of the party to look into various petitions arising from the recently conducted primaries of the party rather than contemplating leaving the party or causing crisis within the party.