Protesters, who are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), stormed the State Secretariat of the party in Akure, Ondo state capital, on Sunday afternoon, expressing displeasure over the outcome of the governorship primary in the State.
The protesters, who were supporters of three of the aspirants who participated in last Saturday’s governorship primary—Chief Olusola Oke, Wale Akinterinwa, and Jimi Odimayo—said the exercise was fraught with illegalities.
Armed with placards bearing various inscriptions such as “No election in Ondo,” “APC primary electoral officers failed to show up in all wards in Ondo State,” and “We demand fairness and justice in APC primary election in Ondo,” among others, the protesters alleged that the governorship primary did not follow the constitution of the party for the conduct of the election. They further appealed to the national leadership of the party to cancel the exercise.
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The demonstrators, who blocked the main gate of the APC state secretariat, hindering vehicular movement and causing gridlock for several hours, demanded justice from the National leadership of APC to prevent putting the party in disarray ahead of the party primary.
They also called for the suspension of the Kogi state governor, Usman Ododo, saying he compromised the procedure of the election, as the April 20, 2024 primary election did not comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
According to them, aspirants were not given equal opportunities to be voted for by party members at the designated centers at the wards that make up Ondo state. They claimed that party members present at various wards to vote did not vote, as there was no known officer of the party to supervise the election or at the venue to accredit voters.
Speaking on behalf of the four aspirants, the Director-General for Olusola Oke Campaign Organisation, Ondo Central Senatorial District, Adeniran Oyebade, said the people of the state would not allow their mandate to be stolen.
Oyebade stated, “We are protesting against our mandate that was stolen. It was broad daylight robbery, a monumental disaster. APC delegated some people to Ondo State to conduct the primary; apparently, that was never done. They remained in Akure and started writing results.”
He called for the suspension of the Chairman of the Primary Election of the APC in the state, Ododo, alleging that the committee has caused more division in the party in the state.
Other leaders, including Otunba Bola Fisayo and Ade Adeniyi, who spoke with Nigerian Tribune, urged the party leadership to take appropriate action to allow the party to move forward.
