It was a wrestling ring as plans of over twenty (20) gubernatorial aspirants under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in Oyo State to choose three (3) consensus candidates among themselves on Tuesday failed as the meeting ended in deadlock.

The aspirants were on Tuesday called to a meeting at the State Secretariat of the party located at Oke-Ado in Ibadan, the state capital in order to pick among themselves, three aspirants who the party would adopt as consensus candidates to face the delegates ahead of the primary election of the party later this month.

At the meeting which was held behind closed doors for over three hours were Governor Abiola Ajimobi of the state, State Chairman of the party, Chief Akin Oke and Secretary of the party, Hon. Mojeed Olaoya.

They also included over twenty gubernatorial aspirants of the party among whom were; Deputy Governor of the state, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo, Dr. Azeez Adeduntan; Mr. Joseph Tegbe; Dr. Olusola Ayandele; Mr. Kehinde Olaosebikan; Mr. Kareem Ayodeji; Mr. Kolawole Asanike and Professor Soji Adejumo.

Others are Mr. Olalekan Alli; Mr. Isacc Omodewu; Mr. Soji Eniade; Mr. Bayo Adelabu, Dr. Morounkola Thomas; Mr. Akeem Agbaje and Mr. Sunday Dare.

The meeting was, however, shunned by the Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu; former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, Chief Niyi Akintola and Dr. Owolabi Babalola.

Our correspondent reliably gathered that Shittu and Owolabi, reliably had purchased their nomination and expression of interest forms.

Ajimobi prior to the Tuesday’s meeting which he promised would last for about ten minutes but later took them over three hours, had assured the gathering that he would meet with the aspirants where they will all agree to pick three aspirants as the consensus candidates of the party for the primary election.

He said that the three candidates will later slog it out among themselves when they face the delegates in the primary election.

While addressing the meeting, he said “Basically, we are here, our objective is to move a motion for our party to progress. Today, we want to have a motion. Therefore, being here is simply to move that motion. All that we are saying is that, APC is that party in Oyo state.

 “I will have a meeting with the aspirants, ten minutes, and I will have a meeting with other aspirants for Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly. Ten minutes each, It will not be more than ten minutes each, the gubernatorial aspirants will agree and pick three aspirants among themselves as consensus candidates of the party”.

Despite the plea, the aspirants failed to produce three aspirants among themselves at the end of the meeting.

While fielding questions with journalists, Ajimobi said the party will have no option than to allow the aspirants go to the primary election if they cannot produce the three consensus candidates among themselves.

“Let them go and agree among themselves, but if they cannot agree, they will go to the primary election”.