Several aggrieved All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirants from the recently concluded party primary ahead of the Ondo State governorship election are gearing up to take legal actions against the Governor Usman Ododo-led committee that conducted the election.
Out of the sixteen aspirants in the APC’s governorship primary election, three had petitioned the party regarding the outcome of the poll, asking for the cancellation of the exercise. The aggrieved aspirants had accused the Ododo-led committee of the APC gubernatorial primaries of bias in carrying out their duties.
The incumbent Governor Lucky Ayiedatiwa emerged as the winner of the primary, as declared in the early hours of Sunday, April 21.
Expressing their dissatisfaction, one of the aspirants, Mr Gbenga Edema, outlined their next course of action.
He stated, “Friday was the day the party’s appeal committee was to look at our complaint. I’m sure they must have looked at the case we presented to them, and we are waiting for the outcome.”
Edema emphasized the importance of exhausting internal conflict resolution mechanisms within the party before considering legal action.
He remarked, “By the time we know the verdict of the appeal committee whether they are sustaining our appeal or dismissing it for lacking in merit, that is when we will take the final decision on whether to go to court or not.”
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Regarding his potential support for Aiyedatiwa in the forthcoming election, Edema highlighted concerns over the legality of the process.
He stated, “It does not matter whether I support him or not, the fact remains that what they did was illegal and as far as it remains illegal, there is nothing I can do.”
Addressing allegations of certificate forgery, Edema reiterated their concerns raised before the party screening committee. He warned of potential adverse effects on the party if such issues were overlooked, emphasizing the need for proactive measures to prevent a repeat of past electoral challenges.
Concluding, Edema affirmed their commitment to pursuing legal recourse if their concerns were not adequately addressed within the party’s internal mechanisms.
He stated, “Since they refuse to listen to us, the law will take its full course.”