President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly anointed Mr Ifeoluwa Oyedele, one of the governorship aspirants of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as his preferred candidate ahead of the party’s primary election slated to hold in Ondo State on Saturday, April 20, 2024.

A dependable source who told Starnews NG on Tuesday night on the condition of anonymity said it is no longer news that Oyedele has been endorsed by the President as he (Tinubu) has already communicated his decision to the leadership of the party in Abuja to support Oyedele’s aspiration.

“For the avoidance of doubt, security has been beefed up around him as his personal security details have been increased upon the directive of the president”, the source added.

Starnews NG reports that Oyedele is the Executive Director (Engineering & Technical Services) at Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited.

Meanwhile, the unconfirmed report has generated tension in Ondo State among some leaders of the party who threatened to work against the party during the main election slated for November 16, 2024, if the news turns out to be true.

One of the leaders of the party, who does not want to be named, said in a telephone interview with Starnews NG that, “No, that’s not feasible. It’s not politically sensible and rational. Whoever that’s endorsing or promoting Engr Ife Oyedele doesn’t want APC to win the Governorship election!

“Engr Oyedele is not on the ground, he just finished his second term of five years in NDPH, how did he use the position to assist our people? What did he do to promote the party? Ask people like Adeola Laguda, and other people who were formally his foot soldiers, how he abandoned them. APC will cheaply lose the election to PDP if Oyedele is imposed on the party”, the source added.

One of the top governorship aspirants who spoke through the Director-General of his campaign, said, “We know they are planning to impose an aspirant on us, but we don’t know the person. They were speculations since last week, but we weren’t sure. If this is true, then APC is gone.

“I congratulate the PDP ahead. This is because we won’t work for him if he’s imposed on us. How is that possible? We can’t be moving from one local government to another to canvass for votes, and they will now impose an unpopular person on us who does not even come home to campaign”, he said.