In a buildup of the governorship elections in Ondo state, a few of all the governoship aspirants from the All Progressives Congress (APC) have passed a vote of no confidence in the primary election overseen by Governor Usman Ododo.
The primary, spanning 203 wards, aims to select the party’s flag bearer for the November 16 gubernatorial election.
Speaking to journalists in Akure on Saturday, during the ongoing exercise, the aspirants criticized Ododo for not adhering to the party’s national leadership guidelines.
Gbenga Edema, an aspirant, particularly shared his dissatisfaction with the delayed distribution of electoral materials for the primary.
According to Mr Edema, as at 10: 00 a.m., electoral materials had not been released contrary to the reolution made during a stakeholders’ meeting on Friday.
“As I’m speaking to you at past 10:00 am, no electoral materials have been distributed.
“We have been here with others before 7;00 a.m. because the secretary of the committee, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, told us during the stakeholders’ meeting that the materials would be distributed to the electoral officers at the BON Hotel, Akure.
“ He told us that the accreditation would start between 10:00:am and 1:00 pm and that voting would commence by 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm.
“ But what we are hearing now is that the election has been concluded and the result announced.
“We asked the chairman, but he had no answer to our questions.
“ We are not people that could be manipulated by god fathers. So, we are asking our national leadership that if they are not ready, they should postpone it until the right thing is done,” he said.
Similarly, Sola Ajisafe, who represented Wale Akinterinwa, one of the aspirants, said that there was no election held in the state.
“ My people have been calling me that no single material has been distributed in their wards.
“What is playing out here is connivance and agreement by Gov. Ododo to short change the people of the state and reduce our capacity to choose our leader.
“We are saying that they should reschedule another election because this election did not even hold.
“This is another form of failure. Ododo has not performed his responsibility concerning this election. This is anti democratic process,” he said.
Also, Rotimi Ogunleye, who represented Olusola Oke, an aspirant, asked the committee to follow due process, adding that a lot had been spent to build the party.
Mr Ogunleye, who said he had a right to protest, called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene.
“ I want to inform President Bola Tinubu, because he is our leader, that the men sent to conduct this election are not following the guidelines,” he said.
Similarly, Paul Oniyemofe, who represented Prof. Dayo Faduyile, another aspirant, described the election as a day light robbery, and asked for a rescheduled primary.
