The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has rejected a report purportedly released by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, claiming that the ruling party failed to conduct any governorship primary in the state.
In various reports purportedly from the electoral umpire’s officials, which have gone viral on social media, the officials stated that the APC governorship primary on April 20 did not occur in their presence due to the unavailability of election materials and violence, among other alleged irregularities.
However, in a statement by Alex Kalejaiye, the State Publicity Secretary, the APC described the report attributed to the electoral commission as “shocking and lacking credibility,” insisting that primaries were held in all 18 local government areas of the state.
Kalejaiye explained that while the results of the primary in Ifedore local council were entirely cancelled, only four wards of the Ilaje local council area were affected by the cancellation. According to him, the cancellations were meant to underscore the validity of the entire process and affirm its fairness.
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“The party therefore doubts the authenticity of the report, credited to an agent of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). It cautions against the needless desperation of some members who have vowed ‘to do everything possible to discredit the process,” Kalejaiye added.
Some of the reports in circulation, signed and submitted by the Electoral Officers and received by one Dimas F. Emmanuel at the INEC headquarters in Abuja on April 30, revealed that there were no election materials available at the polling stations during the primary.
They claimed that although party members came out to vote, there were no election materials, and the election committee did not show up.
Efforts to get a reaction from the Resident Electoral Commission of INEC in the state, Mrs. Olutoyin Babalola, were not successful, as calls and text messages sent to her were not responded to as of the time of filing this report.
Daily Trust previously reported that the primary, chaired by Kogi state governor Usman Ododo, produced incumbent governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the party’s standard bearer but was fraught with controversies, including allegations of bias and violence.
