Three Aspirants Petition APC Over Legitimacy Of Ondo Guber Primary
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State is grappling with challenges as three aspirants have lodged petitions with the Appeal Committee set up by the national leadership of the party regarding the governorship primary election.
The petitioners are former Finance Commissioner, Wale Akinterinwa, a serving House of Representatives member, Hon. Jimi Odimayo, and Barrister Gbenga Edema. The Appeal Committee has officially confirmed the receipt of these petitions.
The aggrieved aspirants in their separate petitions called for an outright cancellation of the shadow election and urged the party leadership as a matter of urgency to order a rerun.
However, the head of the five-member Primary Election Appeal Committee, former Governor of Bauchi State,
Mohammed Abubakar (SAN), noted that the committee was set up to ensure transparency and integrity of the primary election.
Addressing the press in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Monday, Abubakar revealed that the petitions cited concerns about the primary not being conducted across all 203 electoral wards in the state and highlighted irregularities during the process.
“So far, we have received three petitions; one from Olugbenga Edema, Omoba Jimmy Odimayo and the last one from Adewale Akinterinwa after the conclusion of the primary and declaration of the candidate of the party.
“The situation I met on ground was an inconclusive election that needed to be repeated in one local government. They were able to repeat the election in that local government and by early this morning, they were able to declare the results of the primary.”
He added that the committee would be expecting more petitions from any other aggrieved aspirants between Monday and Tuesday afternoon.
According to him, the secretary of the committee, Obiocha Israel, would be available at the temporary office in Akure within two days to receive the petition.
“The committee will be here till on Tuesday to collect whatever complaints that may be. Let me use this opportunity to assure members of our party that this committee intends to be thorough and transparent in treating any complaint that we will receive.
“I can assure you that within a space of a few days, we will consider the total number of petitions we received and render a report to the national headquarters of our party before the party takes a final decision on the issue of the primary.
“I am calling on all the aspirants that have complaints) to please, feel free to forward it to us. We have since established our office at the headquarters of the party for the collection of this appeal if there are.”
Abubakar therefore emphasized the committee’s commitment to fairness based on facts and figures presented to them.