By Ken Chiwendu
.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) says the Ondo State governorship Primary Election which began yesterday will resume by noon on Sunday.
Earlier, the Chairman of the 7- member Election Committee,Gov Usman Ododo of Kogi State had declared the election inconclusive.
Ododo, who announced this in a statement said the committee has received reports from 203 wards in 18 local government areas of the state and that polls will be conducted in all 13 wards of Okitipupa Local Government Area which have a total of 9,515 validated registered members” of. the party.
“Having received reports of the primary election from the 203 wards in the 18 local governments of Ondo State, the primary election committee has decided that election will be conducted in all the 13 Wards of Okitipupa local government with total validated registered members of 9,515, because of validated reports that the exercise did not hold in the local government due to late arrival of materials and personnel as a result of logistics challenges.”
“Election in Okitipupa local government shall be conducted 12 noon on Sunday 21st April 2024. The final collation of the results will be done thereafter.
“I have received reports from our committee members and security agencies as well as NGOs monitoring the election including video footage and I can say that the process has been transparent and we are going to produce a candidate that will unify the APC ahead of the November 2024 governorship election in the state.”
The APC had chosen the direct option for the election which was contested by 16 governorship aspirants, including the incumbent governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa .
Others are Isaac Kekemeke; Olusoji Ehinlanwo; Olugbenga Edema; Jimoh Ibrahim; Funmilayo Waheed-Adekojo; Akinfolarin Samuel; Adewale Akinterinwa; Olusola Oke; Ohunyeye Felix; Morayo Lebi; Garvey Iyanjan; Dayo Faduyile; Judith Omogoroye; Ifeoluwa Oyedele and Okunjimi John.
However , some aspirants said the election was marred by confusion, and irregularities.and directed’ towards favouring a particular aspirant.
The aggrieved aspirants, Olusola Oke SAN,Wale Akinterinwa, Olugbenga Edema and Dayo Faduyile therefore called for the removal of Ododo or cancellation of the primary saying they no longer have confidence in the Kogi governor chairing such a sensitive committee.
