There are palpable fears in the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State as tension rose on Monday that the party may not participate in the November 16, 2024 gubernatorial election in the state as Independent National Electoral Commission electoral officers declared that the party didn’t conduct governorship primary election on April 20, 2024 in the state....CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE FROM THE SOURCE
Reports allegedly submitted by INEC electoral officers who monitored the APC governorship primary election across the 18 local government areas of the state, claimed that there were no elections in the designated Registration Areas.
According to some reports in circulation signed and submitted by individual Electoral Officers which were received by one Dimas F. Emmanuel, ACLO, INEC headquarters, Abuja, dated April 30, 2024, the Electoral Officers revealed that there was no election materials made available at the polling stations.
They revealed that members of the party came out en masse to perform their civic rights but were disappointed as there were no election materials and the election committee which ought to conduct the election did not show up.
According to Abai C.O (Mrs.), the INEC Electoral Officer, who monitored Ifedore Local Government Area, she wrote that “The election of All Progressives Congress Governorship Primary was not held in presence due to the unavailability of the election materials to be used and the absence of the Electoral organising committee in all the 10 Registration Areas till Monitoring team left late in the evening.”
In her report, Owogbo O.O. (Mrs.), the INEC Electoral Officer for Akoko South-East Local Government Area, said, “In some of the Wards, the electorates arranged themselves in queues according to the number of contestants with representatives, counted the number of the electorates, but their efforts were rendered inconsequential as there were no election materials deployed for the conduct of the election.”
She gave the statistics of the Wards she wrote her reports on to include Epinmin I and Epinmin II Ifira, Ipe I, Ipe II, Ipesi, Isua I, Isua II, Isua III and Isua IV.
In Ilaje Local Government Area of the state, where the incumbent Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa hails from, Okeniyi Bayo Fatai, the INEC Electoral Officer, who monitored the local government explained that “The party members in the Local Government all converged at the designated venues to exercise their civic responsibilities.
“Although INEC monitors were present in all wards for the assignment, the event was characterized by non-availability of election materials across the 12 RAs in the LGA.
“In view of the above, the election did not take place in Ilaje LGA and results were not given to the monitors.”
Party kicks, insists governorship primary held across Ondo
Meanwhile, the APC in Ondo State has dismissed the report that the governorship primary election was not held in the state, describing the report as shocking and not credible.
In a statement issued by the party’s state Publicity Secretary, Alex Kalejaiye on Monday, the party maintained that the election was held in all the Local Government Areas of the state except in Ifedore and Ilaje LGs.
Kalejaiye said, “For the records, elections took place in all the 18 Local Government Areas in the state. There were agitations in the Ifedore and Ilaje Local Government areas. While the results in the entire Ifedore Local Government were cancelled, that of Ilaje affected about four wards, which were also cancelled.
“The essence of such cancellations was to emphasize the validity of the entire process and lend credence to fairness. The voting strength of our members in the affected areas was not substantial enough to dent the credibility of the process, nor affect the margin with which the candidate emerged.
“The party, therefore, doubts the authenticity of the report, credited to an agent of the INEC. The state chapter cautions against needless desperation on the part of some members who have vowed “to do everything possible to discredit the process.”
He urged the party’s supporters to discountenance the spurious report and focus “on the bigger task ahead to win the governorship election and retain the Sunshine State for the APC.”
The ruling party held its primary across the 18 LGs of the state on April 20, 2024, and Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa won the election after scoring 48,596 votes to defeat other 15 contestants.
However, not satisfied with the primary, five of the aspirants petitioned the primary election’s appeal committee to challenge the outcome of the primary.
The aggrieved aspirants include a former Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Wale Akinterinwa; a member of the House of Representatives, Jimi Odimayo; a former chairman of the Ondo State Oil-Producing Areas Development Commission, Mr. Gbenga Edema; a senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District, Jimoh Ibrahim, and Folakemi Omogoroye, among others.
PDP’ll reclaim Ondo, Makinde, Adeleke boast
In another development, Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has declared that the People’s Democratic Party will reclaim Ondo State from the APC in the November 2024 governorship election.
The governor stated this on Monday, when he hosted leaders of the party from the South West geopolitical zone, who converged on Ibadan to kick-start the process of reconciling PDP agitators in Ondo State.
Governor Makinde noted that the PDP family has begun to speak with one voice and that the PDP governorship candidate, Agboola Ajayi and other parties would team up to ensure that the party has a strong showing at the polls.
According to the governor, all PDP leaders and stakeholders from across the six South West states are behind the Ondo PDP candidate.
He said, “Our candidate HE Agboola Ajayi is here and the first step forward for us is to reconcile all the tendencies in Ondo State. This is because once we have a unified PDP in Ondo State, we have a path to the Alagbaka Government House.
“To God be the glory, we have spoken as one family. Our candidate has also been able to key into that process.
“So, for us, people should expect a very strong showing from the PDP in Ondo State in November by the grace of God. With our leaders from across the South West standing behind our candidates in the state, I think it is a strong signal to the present occupier of the Ondo Government House. The PDP is coming and it will happen.”
Similarly, Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke, said the South West PDP came together to deliberate on the affairs of the party regarding the forthcoming election in Ondo State.
He added that the South West PDP leaders congratulated Ajayi, who won the party primary in a transparent process that showed that the PDP is a democratic party that follows due process.
Adeleke said, “As you can see, everyone is happy as it is a family affair. We came over to Oyo State to meet with our brother, His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, to deliberate on the PDP affairs as touching Ondo State.
“Of course, we congratulate our brother, Agboola, who won the primary, which went very well. Everybody now knows that PDP is a democratic party because we followed due process.
“We also want to begin the reconciliation process, because we know some people are upset and we believe our leaders will go back home to bring everybody together. Even Governor Makinde and I would be invited to Akure to see how we can move forward in the state ahead of the election in November.”
Also speaking, the PDP governorship candidate, Agboola Ajayi, thanked Governors Makinde and Adeleke as well as the PDP leaders for their support ahead of the election.
He described the PDP as a formidable party in Ondo State, stating that all PDP members are one family and that they will deliver the state to the PDP fold in the November election.
“The leaders have spoken. They are leading and we will follow. I thank them for their massive support, especially the two South West governors; Governors Seyi Makinde and Adeleke.
“They have been of tremendous support and encouragement for the party in the state, particularly as it affects the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State. I thank all of them. By the grace of God, I believe victory is ours.
“PDP is very formidable. All of us are here because we believe this is one family and we are going to deliver. Victory is certain for us in the next election,” Ajayi said.
The meeting had in attendance former Governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko; 2023 PDP governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, and a former PDP governorship candidate in Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede.
Also in attendance were former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Olabode George; PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; and South West Chairman of the PDP, Kamoru Ajisafe, among others.
Follow BREAKING NEWS Channel on WhatsApp