Ondo Guber Primary: Aggrieved Aspirants Petition APC, Demand Cancellation

Three of the sixteen aspirants in the Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election have petitioned the party over the outcome of the poll, demanding a cancellation of the exercise.

The election committee, led by Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, had in the early hours of Monday, declared Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa the winner of the primary election, with a total of 48,569 votes.

Days after the declaration, the leader of the five-man appeal committee and a former governor of Bauchi State Mohammed Abubakar confirmed that the three of the aspirants have petitioned the party over the exercise.

“We have received three petitions from these three aspirants: Gbenga Edema, Jimi Odimayo, and Wale Akinterinwa,” Abubakar said.

“That the purported election should be cancelled and a new date should be picked and a new election conducted.

“That the Usman Ododo-committee has compromised itself because of not obeying its own rules and so should not be allowed to conduct the new election.”

The third appellant, Odimayo called for the outright cancellation of the APC primary election, and the disbandment of the seven-man committee with immediate effect.

“Kindly note that our party is the cynosure of all eyes and it is expected of us to do what is right at all times,” he said.

“As part of the party’s guidelines, nobody is allowed to be a Returning Officer in his or her ward of origin.

In his speech, Abubakar, assured members of the party that the committee – which has Obiocha Israel, Secretary; Jamilu Gwamna, Patrick Obahiagbo, and Onyeka Okafor as members – would be thorough and transparent in treating any complaint that was received.

“I can assure you that within a few days, we will consider the total number of petitions we receive and render a report to the national headquarters before the party takes a final decision on the issue.

“So, I am calling on all the aspirants who have complaint(s) to please, feel free to forward them to us. We have since established our office at the headquarters of the party for collection of the appeals,” Abubakar noted.