•Oke, Ondo leaders kick, want APC primary nullified

By Dayo Johnson & Dapo Akinrefon

627 delegates from the 18 Local Government Areas of Ondo State are expected to elect the flagbearer of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, for the November 16, 2024 governorship election in the state.

The governorship primary election will be held today in Akure, Ondo State.

Seven governorship aspirants including former deputy governor of the state, Mr Agboola Ajayi; former General Secretary of the pan Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Chief Sola Ebiseni; a former Information and Orientation Commissioner, Prince John Mafo; Bamidele Akingboye; Adeolu Akinwumi; Bosun Arebuwa and Mr Kolade Akinjo, have been screened and cleared by the Senator Sam Egwu screening committee to participate in the primary election.

The primary election will be conducted by a 7-man Primary Election Committee, headed by Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Mr Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.

The party, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei, said that the election will be held at the International Culture and Events Centre (The Dome) in Akure.

Peretei said: “All those who are not delegates or have no business at the venue are advised to keep a reasonable distance from the arena.”

Oke asks APC Appeal C’ttee to nullify the primary election

Meanwhile, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ondo State, Chief Olusola Oke, SAN, has asked the election appeal committee to nullify last Saturday’s governorship primary election in the state.

Oke said: “The APC primary election in Ondo State purportedly conducted between April 20 and 22, 2024, be set aside for being a nullity, flawed, having been conducted against the order of Court, lis pendens and without compliance with relevant provisions of laws and APC constitution and guidelines.

READ ALSO: Ondo guber: PDP holds primary Thursday, sets up 7-member panel

“Since no valid declaration can be based on an invalid primary election, the committee is urged to recommend or direct a conduct of fresh primary to be conducted in line with applicable laws and guidelines.”

“The primary election was not conducted as prescribed by law and the APC Constitution and Nomination Guidelines.”

Ondo leaders kick against APC primary

Also, some leaders from Ondo State, under the aegis of Movement of Truth, MOT, on Wednesday, urged President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene and call for the cancellation of the APC Governorship Primary Election.

Leaders of MOT including Dr Benson Enikuomehin, Otunba Stephen Omogbemi, Primate David Liazir, Mr Kayode Mogbojuri, Miss Precious Eyo, David Olusegun and Tayo Fakolujo, who addressed a press conference in Lagos, described the exercise that produced Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as a charade, a misnomer and an abnormality.

Recall that the Kogi State Governor and Chairman of the Election Organising Committee, Usman Ododo, on Monday, declared Governor Aiyedatiwa as the winner of the APC gubernatorial ticket for the November 16 election.

But Enikuomehin, who addressed the press, insisted that no voting was held on that day as, according to him, no electoral materials were sent to any of the local government areas where electoral officers were supposed to be in charge, calling on President Tinubu to request for another election to save the party.

While calling for the cancellation of the exercise, he insisted that the people of Ondo would not accept the “charade that was conducted on Saturday,” warning that APC was not the only party in the state and, therefore, the need to cancel the exercise and order a fresh one that would be free, fair and credible.

He said: “We must warn that APC is not the only party in Ondo State, so we enjoin the party leadership to do another election that is credible, fair and free. Whoever wins will be supported.”