Some of the governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State yesterday rejected the conduct of the primacy election and demanded its cancellation.
They also passed a vote of no confidence in the chairman of the primary election committee, Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo.
But Ododo said the primary proceeded as planned and lauded party members who participated for turning out massively for the exercise.
Addressing newsmen in Akure, even as the election got underway, the aspirants said that Governor Ododo did not follow the due process laid down by the national leadership of the party.
Mr Gbenga Edema, one of the aspirants, frowned at the delay in the release of electoral materials meant for the primary.
According to Edema, as at 10: 00 a.m., electoral materials had not been released, contrary to the resolution made during a stakeholders’ meeting on Friday.
“As I’m speaking to you at past 10:00 am, no electoral materials have been distributed.
“We have been here with others before 7;00 a.m. because the secretary of the committee, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, told us during the stakeholders’ meeting that the materials would be distributed to the electoral officers at the BON Hotel, Akure.
“He told us that the accreditation would start between 10:00:am and 1:00 pm and that voting would commence by 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm.
“But what we are hearing now is that the election has been concluded and the result announced.
“We asked the chairman but he had no answer to our questions.
“We are not people that could be manipulated by godfathers. So, we are asking our national leadership that if they are not ready, they should postpone it until the right thing is done,” he said.
Similarly, Mr Sola Ajisafe, who represented Mr Wale Akinterinwa, one of the aspirants said that there was no election held in the state.
“My people have been calling me that no single material has been distributed in their wards.
“What is playing out here is connivance to short change the people of the state and reduce our capacity to choose our leader.
“We are saying that they should reschedule another election because this election did not even hold.
“This is another form of failure. Ododo has not performed his responsibility concerning this election. This is anti democratic process,” he said.
Mr Rotimi Ogunleye, who represented Mr Olusola Oke, an aspirant, asked the committee to follow due process, adding that a lot had been spent to build the party.
Ogunleye, who said he had a right to protest, asked President Bola Tinubu to intervene.
“I want to inform President Bola Tinubu, because he is our leader, that the men sent to conduct this election are not following the guidelines,” he said.
Ojo Oyewamide, spokesman for the Olusola Oke campaign organisation, said separately that the primary defied all descriptions of decency and democratic conduct.
Oke said primary election materials were not distributed to the 203 wards across the state as expected and assured by the Ododo-led election committee.
He said many of his supporters were beaten and harassed. His words: “Members of APC, who are eligible to vote for their preferred aspirants, did not have the opportunity to do so. Many of them queued in the sun till 3:00 pm, waiting for the conduct of the shadow poll.
“In another instance, regrettably enough, the election officers that were to conduct the exercise in the wards are known supporters of one of the aspirants.
“These people were kept in one hotel where they were to perpetrate all sorts of evil to compromise the process of choosing the candidate of our party.
“In a return to the dark days of thuggery in Ondo State, our supporters and supporters of other aspirants were beaten, intimidated and chased away from most of the designated voting centres by known political thugs and secret cult members hired by one of the aspirants.
“This level of violence has turned hospitals into the abodes of our supporters and other members of our party.
“Therefore, we like to state very categorically that no primary election was conducted by the APC in Ondo State today, Saturday, 20, 2024.
“Rather, what happened was shameful, and it constituted a serious dent on the image of our dear party.
“We expected that a decent nomination exercise, characterised by peace, freedom of our members to make their choices and fairness, would be conducted.
“We waited patiently for it, however, what we got was heart-rending.”
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa voted at Ugbo Ward 4, Obenla, Ilaje Local Government Area. He expressed confidence in the democratic process and reiterated his commitment to upholding the principles of transparency and fairness in the party’s election of candidate.
He urged all stakeholders to embrace unity and cohesion, emphasising the need for collective efforts towards advancing the development agenda of Ondo State.
The governor said: “This marks a special homecoming for me, as I express my heartfelt gratitude to my fellow constituents, esteemed party members, and the vibrant community of Ugbo Ward 4 in Ilaje Local Government.
“Today, in the very land of my birth, I stand to exercise my right to vote and to vie for the honour of representing our party as its gubernatorial flag bearer in the November gubernatorial election.
“The tremendous turnout we witnessed here today is no surprise to me, for this is where my journey began. It is here, amidst the familiar streets and faces, where I took my first steps and received my primary education.
“The joy of reconnecting with my roots is further heightened by the presence of two of my childhood classmates, a delightful reunion that fills me with immense happiness.
“Returning to this cherished community fills my heart with great excitement and gratitude. It is a privilege to stand once again among the people who have shaped my life’s journey.
“I extend my deepest appreciation to all who have gathered here to partake in this important democratic process. Together, let us forge ahead towards a brighter future for our beloved state.”
Mr Paul Oniyemofe, who represented Prof. Dayo Faduyile, another aspirant, described the election as a day light robbery, and asked for a rescheduled primary.
Some other party members said the election committee asked agents of the party to assemble at BON Hotel, Akure to witness the release of election materials to those assigned to conduct the primary. The agents were told to be there by 7am.
They got there as instructed and waited for the materials to be given to the election officers. Reporters were also there.
By 10am, Ododo addressed them, saying that materials for Ondo North and Ondo South were dispatched earlier in the day. The agents queried why that was done contrary to the directive that the materials would be released in their presence.
The agents asked for evidence of when and how the materials were released. Ododo did not provide any evidence, insisting that voting materials had been dispatched.
As the exchanges were going on between Ododo and the agents, voting was said to have commenced in many local government areas. This prompted some of the aspirants to berate Ododo and the national secretariat for poor handling of the process.
They accused the Ododo committee and the national secretariat of the party of working for Aiyedatiwa
Secretary of the election committee, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, told reporters that contrary to insinuations in some quarters, the committee had no predetermined motive but to ensure the credibility of the primary.
“We are not here with any predetermination; it is going to be a free and fair exercise. That is the only directive that was given to us,” he said.
Continuing, Omo-Agege said: “The only difference here is that this is a progressive state—an APC state. We are determined to ensure that at the end of the eight years of APC, we are about to start another eight years of another APC administration.
“We believe that whoever emerges as our flag bearer is going to win the general election, and at best, we have been able to assure all of the aspirants that there should be no bitterness.
“We don’t want to contest that at the end of the exercise we have difficulty bringing everybody together to win during elections. I think everyone is on board.”
Aiyedatiwa returned to Akure last night after voting in his home town.
He rode in motorcade with his supporters hailing him as he passed by.
The collation of the results from the 18 local government areas of the stare is expected to take place today and the winner announced.
