Four of the 16 aspirants vying for the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State are demanding the cancellation of the ongoing primary election.
The aggrieved aspirants, including Wale Akinterinwa, Olusola Oke, Olugbenga Edema, and Dayo Faduyile, have accused the seven-man committee, led by Kogi Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, of perpetrating fraud in the process.
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They have urged the embattled national chairman of the party, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, to either remove Ododo from overseeing the exercise or cancel it entirely.
Expressing their lack of trust in Ododo’s ability to ensure a credible and transparent primary, the aspirants warned that the outcome could jeopardize the November 16 governorship poll.
According to Edema, the committee failed to deliver materials for the primary to his “Mahin Ward II” in Ilaje local government, alleging that the process was being manipulated to favor a particular aspirant.
He stressed the need for a credible election and called for intervention from the party leadership.
Similarly, Akinterinwa insisted on the immediate replacement of Ododo, emphasizing that he would not accept the primary’s outcome under his supervision. He urged the party leadership to appoint a neutral person, as was done in Edo State, to conduct a fresh primary.
Echoing their sentiments, Olusola Oke highlighted the absence of materials in both the south and north senatorial districts of the state.
He emphasized the importance of Ododo adhering to the guidelines set by the national leadership of the party.
Responding, Ododo acknowledged the complaints of the aggrieved aspirants, stating that the committee would address them accordingly.
He assured that election materials had been dispatched to Ondo north and south, but pledged to investigate the grievances raised by the aspirants.
