The Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has disclosed that his refusal to present his Certificate of Return to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje, was not a sign of disrespect.

Aiyedatiwa, who won his reelection last Saturday, was presented his Certificate of Return on Wednesday, at the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Abuja.

After the presentation, Aiyedatiwa led a delegation of Ondo party leadership to meet members of the APC National Working Committee at the party secretariat where they were warmly received.

However, both Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Adelami Olaide, refused to present their certificates to Ganduje as part of the protocol.

Shortly after his delegation met the party leadership, Aiyedatiwa in a chat with THE PUNCH that they deliberately didn’t present the certificates because they felt the honour should first go to President Bola Tinubu before the NWC.

He said, “I am supposed to first of all present the certificate to Mr President, the leader of this party. But he is not in town.

That is why I cannot present the certificate to Mr Chairman first. So, it is not a case of being disrespectful.

“I just believe that is the right thing to do by presenting it to Mr President first of all before coming here. But since I am in Abuja, I had to come.

I recognise the leadership that Ganduje has provided for this party at the national and even the state level. Since he took over as the chairman of this party, we have not lost any election.”