Four Aspirants in Ondo APC Primary Reject Ododo, Call for New Exercise

Four aspirants competing for the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the ongoing primary have demanded the cancellation of the exercise, citing allegations of fraud and lack of transparency. Wale Akinterinwa, Olusola Oke, Olugbenga Edema, and Dayo Faduyile, among the aggrieved aspirants, accused the seven-man committee overseeing the primary, led by Kogi Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, of perpetrating irregularities in the ongoing process. They called for either the removal of Ododo or the cancellation of the primary.

Expressing their lack of confidence in the fairness of the ongoing exercise, the aggrieved aspirants called upon the national leadership of the party, including embattled chairman Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, to intervene and address their concerns to ensure a credible and transparent process.

During a press briefing in Akure, Olugbenga Edema, representing the aggrieved aspirants, highlighted instances of alleged misconduct, such as the failure to distribute materials for the primary in his “Mahin Ward II” in Ilaje local government. He emphasized the need for a fair election and warned that the credibility of the primary could be compromised if such issues were not addressed promptly.

Wale Akinterinwa echoed Edema’s sentiments, demanding the immediate replacement of Ododo overseeing the primary. He emphasized that he would not accept the outcome of the primary if Ododo continued to oversee the process, calling for the appointment of a neutral individual to conduct a new primary in line with party guidelines.

Olusola Oke, represented by one of his aides, Rotimi Ogunleye, also raised concerns about the failure to receive materials for the primary in the south and north senatorial districts of the state. Oke stressed the importance of adhering to the guidelines set forth by the national leadership of the party to ensure a free and fair election process.

In response, Ododo acknowledged the complaints raised by the aggrieved aspirants and assured that the committee would address them accordingly. He noted that while materials had been dispatched for distribution, the concerns raised would be thoroughly investigated by the committee.