By Fidel Ozugha
With 16 aspirants contesting for the only one seat as a governor, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election held in Ondo State on Saturday, April 20, 2024, was a blend of violence, protest and disagreements.
In places like Okitipupa, ldanre, Akure, the state capital, Supare and Akoko South-West, violence was the instrument used in the exercise.
Hon Ynika Akosile, former councilor in Akure South council area of the State, was attacked with machete cuts on the head by suspected political thugs. The hired assailants invaded the Obanla ward in Akure metropolis drove away voters.
At Ward 1, Stella Maris College, Okitipupa, rival supporters of two aspirants clashed and redesigned the environment with violence
Even before the accreditation and election procedures could commence, violence erupted in many places which thereby instilling fear in the voters and they fled for safety of the their lives. Political thugs were on duty, storming voting centres to disrupt the exercise by preventing supporters of some aspirants from voting, and they did. In Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo, election materials were reportedly not delivered, hence no voting.
Speaking on the non-distribution of voting materials by the governorship election committee, the four governorship aspirants that passed a vote of no confidence on Gov Ododo of Kogi State, said there was no voting material seen in any of the political wards in Ondo. Their stand is in line to the speculation that the result generated from the election would not be credible.
Four of the aspirants kicked against the conduct of the exercise. They asked the leadership of the party to cancel the primary conducted by Governor Ahmed Ododo of Kogi State, alleging compromise.
Speaking on the non-distribution of voting materials by the governorship election committee, the four governorship aspirants said there was no voting material seen in any of the political wards in Ondo, fueling the speculation that the result generated from the election would not be credible
Meanwhile, the seven-man Primary Election Committee set up by the party but conducted the shadow poll said that the committee has no predetermined motive but to ensure the credibility of the primary.
The Secretary of the Committee, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, said 172,025 members of the party participated in the exercise.
He said ahead of the election, “We expect a seamless exercise, a very peaceful exercise. It’s a family contest. This is not the general election.
“We are determined to ensure that, at the end of the eight years of APC, we are about to start another eight years of another APC administration.
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“We believe that whoever emerges as our flag bearer is going to win the general election, and at best, we have been able to assure all of the aspirants that there should be no bitterness.
While aspirants like Chief Olusola Oke, Hon Olugbenga Edema, Hon Wale Akinterinwa and Prof Dayo Faduyile were aggrieved by the outcome of the election, the incumbent governor of the State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the shadow election.
Aiyedatiwa, after voting at his Ugbo Ward 4, Obenla in Ilaje council area of the state, expressed confidence in the democratic process and reiterated his commitment to upholding the principles of transparency and fairness in the party’s selection of candidate.
The governor urged all stakeholders to embrace unity and cohesion, emphasizing the need for collective efforts towards advancing the development agenda of Ondo State.
