Dayo Faduyile, the erstwhile President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), has asked the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, to adopt a direct mode for the primaries of the party in Ondo State.

Ahead of the primaries, 12 aspirants in the APC have shown interest in contesting the November 16 governorship election. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had fixed April as the deadline for the conduct of primaries.

Officially declaring his interest on Thursday, Mr Faduyile said choosing the direct mode would bring fairness and transparency and satisfy all the contestants jostling for the party’s ticket. 

“Whichever one the leadership of the party wishes to use, anybody who wants to aspire must be ready for any of those three, which are in the rules of the APC. I have had the opportunity to see where indirect primaries have been used in the same way as direct primaries.

“But with what has been happening in recent times, it looks to me that the best approach is a direct primary..(soc)..we will do our best to defeat any candidate who will contest at the primary,” Mr Faduyile told journalists in Akure. 

He pleaded with the party leadership to avoid imposing any candidate on the members, saying he was in the race to “win”.

The governorship aspirant said he was better than incumbent Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who will officially declare his interest in the race soon. 

“I’m a professor of medicine, and that is not something you get by chieftaincy or votes. I’ll not come and waste my time on negotiation. There is no reason why I should come and seek negotiation. I’m not here to play; I’m here to win.

“To face an incumbent governor, you have to put in more effort. I wish my brother, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, luck in his campaign, but look at us together; I’m better than him in many ramifications,” he said. 

While noting that he’s out to serve the people of the state, Mr Faduyile said it’s time for a leadership change that would take back the state and position it for greatness. 

According to him, the state needs a leader who would change the narrative and revamp the infrastructure, health, and education sectors for the benefit of the people. 

“So, I am running because the stake couldn’t be higher: Our health system (primary and tertiary) needs immediate revamp. We must create an environment where our medical practitioners want to live and work,” Mr Faduyile said.