Governorship aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have protested the conduct of the primary election to elect a candidate for the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State.
The aspirants including Chief Olusola Oke SAN, Hon Olugbenga Edema, Hon Wale Akinterinwa, and Prof Dayo Faduyile asked the leadership of the party to disband Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo-led electoral committee because it has been compromised.
Speaking at the distribution centre, the aspirants said there was no voting material seen in any of the political wards in the state fueling the speculation that the result generated from the election would not be credible.
The Director of Programme of the Wale Akinterinwa Campaign organisation, Sola Ajisafe said it was obvious that the election committee was out for a dubious exercise as there was no voting or election material in any part of the state.
He said, “For APC to bring Ododo to Ondo state is a low to our party and state, and position is that no primary election has taken place, no election materials have left here, and we are saying that the leadership of the party should do the needful by sending another neutral person, just like they did in Edo state to come and conduct another primary election where the good people of Ondo state will freely exercise their franchise to pick their candidate.
“If the leadership of the party failed to do the needful, then there is a way we will react and we are going to react accordingly. If any results are announced, we are telling the leadership of the party including President Bola Tinubu that no election took place in Ondo state, and no materials were distributed for us to pick our preferred candidate.”
Speaking on behalf of Olusola Oke, Mr. Rotimi Ogunleye said the party had assured them of a level playing field when they met with the election committee at the stakeholders meeting on Friday night.
Mr. Paul Oniyemofe who spoke on behalf of Prof Faduyile said there was no electoral material since he arrived at the venue. He said it would be an injustice if the party threatened its members in a dishonourable manner.
