At least four governorship hopefuls within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State are calling for the annulment of the ongoing gubernatorial primary elections, citing alleged fraudulent activities by the seven-man APC Electoral Committee, chaired by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State.
Expressing their grievances at the BON Hotel in Akure, the state capital, on Saturday, Barrister Gbenga Edema, the leader of the aggrieved aspirants, voiced their lack of confidence in the current electoral process, stressing the need for immediate intervention from the party’s national leadership.
Edema voiced concerns, stating, “We’ve been here since 6 am, believing that our people will collect the materials, but unfortunately, at about 9:30 am, Governor Usman Ododo announced that materials had been distributed. At what time? In what places? We don’t know!”
He further emphasized the demand for transparency, asserting, “What we are asking for is a credible election. If they’re not ready for this election, they should postpone it, and the right thing should be done.”
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Sola Ajisafe, representing another aspirant, Akinterinwa, echoed similar sentiments, expressing disappointment in the appointment of Ododo to oversee the process in Ondo State. Ajisafe stressed the need for the party’s leadership to intervene promptly, urging the appointment of a neutral party to conduct a fair and unbiased primary election.
Mr. Rotimi Ogunleye, speaking on behalf of yet another aspirant, Olusola Oke, echoed the frustration over the lack of adherence to due process, emphasizing the need for accountability and adherence to the party’s guidelines.
In their collective plea for fairness, the aspirants called upon the national leadership of the APC to take decisive action and ensure that the electoral process is conducted by established guidelines and principles, preserving the integrity of the party’s internal democracy.