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Indications emerged yesterday that plans of the Unity Forum within the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ondo State to present a consensus candidate that would contest against Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu may be heading for the brickwall.

The group bent on stopping the re-election of the governor has been enmeshed in crisis over where to zone the governorship.

Over 12 governorship aspirants in the Unity Forum are either from Ondo North or Ondo South senatorial districts

Some members of Unity Forum had in a communique issued on Monday after a virtual meeting said all aspirants in the forum have resolved to cede the governorship mandate to Ondo North.

The communique said they agreed to jointly present a credible consensus candidate who will tackle Governor Akeredolu who also hails from Ondo North

Chairman of the governorship aspirants of the Unity Forum, Dr Olusegun Abraham, who presided over the virtual meeting confirmed the decision to present a consensus candidate from Ondo North.

According to the communique, “We agreed to present only one aspirant that will contest the party’s gubernatorial primary election later this year.”

But some governorship aspirants in another statement said the communique was issued without authorisation.

The aspirants who confirmed the virtual meeting said they discussed on possible options of consensus aspirant for the Unity Forum and the need for smooth relationship between aspirants.

In the statement signed by nine aspirants such as Chief Olusola Oke and Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele, they said they did not discuss or resolve on any of the grave allegations contained in the communique.

According to the statement “The Aspirants Forum did not mandate any of its members to publish or make public the mutual dialogue that took place during the discussion which focused majorly on issues highlighted above and therefore could not have authourised the tissues of lies contained in the report which was deliberately published to misinform the public.

“The undersigned aspirants wish to dissociate ourselves from the content and intent of the publication. In the Aspirants’ Forum, we discuss issues, principles and ideas and not frivolities as represented in the publication. It is not in our character to disparage our leaders.

“Our colleague, Pastor Segun Abraham who unilaterally issued and sponsored the said publication should take full responsibility for his idea and actions without dragging other aspirants into public opprobrium.

“We remain committed to Ondo state that is prosperous, developed and peaceful which is the focus of the revered Unity Forum.”