The battle for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket in Ondo State moved a notch higher yesterday.

Seven aspirants including Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim and former Finance Commissioner Wale Akinterinwa submitted their nomination forms at the party’s headquarters in Abuja.

Others are: APC National Vice Chairman Isaacs Kekemeke, Gen. Olamide Ohunyeye, Mr Waheed-Adekojo Funmilayo and Dr. Olusoji Adewale Ehinlanwo.

The primary is slated for April 20.

Aiyedatiwa told reporters that if picked and re-elected, he would build on his efforts.

Jimoh Ibrahim rolled out his plans for the economic revival of the state.

Ayiedatiwa, who was accompanied by the Speaker of the House of Assembly Olamide Oladiji, some lawmakers and party officials expressed confidence in picking the party’s ticket, saying none of other aspirants is a threat to his aspirations.

Aiyedatiwa noted that within the short period as governor of the state, he had been able to pay some salaries, pension and other arrears owed since 2014.

Senator Ibrahim promised to turn the state into Dubai in Nigeria if voted.

The frontline governorship aspirant who described himself as the best in the race, promised fortify Amotekun and using electronic apps to secure the state.

“I stood election about one and a half years ago, and now I am in the Senate. I am the first APC senator from the south since APC was formed they have not been able to win the election in Ondo.

“I am the best of all the aspirants. I can assure you that we are going to win the next election, we have a movement that was set up, and we have collected data of over 400,000. I visited over 120 wards completed last week.

“My focus when I become governor is to ensure that one, the Bitumen $47 billion seated in Agbabu is extracted.

I brought the current Bitumen bill before the national assembly and we are now on the third reading of that bill so that we can have a law backing Bitumen.”

On whether the governor has been endorsed, Senator Ibrahim said: “Politics is about democracy and democracy is about numbers.

“Was Asiwaju endorsed during the APC presidential primary? But at the end of the day, he won the election with no endorsement from anybody, when you believe your turn is your turn. It is my turn.

On security, Ibrahim said: “I will fortify Amotekun and I will use the app to dislodge insecurity. Some apps can detect insecurity and crimes, this is what I will employ. Modern security requires this artificial intelligence to combat insecurity.

“Today security is about having the right app to manage the situation, when I become the governor I will use the military jets to fly drones around for intense security”

Akinterinwa also promised to change the civil service status of the state and transform it into a self-sufficient state without depending on the central government.

The former banker who was accompanied by his wife, Oluremi unveiled his plans to cash on the long coastal line to turn around the economic fortunes of the state.

According to him, the focus will be on the marine economy, agriculture and Tourism.

Akinterinwa who served under the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu said attention will be given to education to ensure human development of the state adding that agriculture will be given attention with a focus on making the state feed the entire South West region.

END.