INEC Boycotts Ondo APC State Congress

By Ayodele Oni

Citing a Court order and other administrative lapses, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday stayed away from the Ondo State Congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing the absence of a directive from its national headquarters and an existing court injunction restraining recognition of the exercise.

Despite INEC’s absence, the APC went ahead with its state congress at the International Centre for Culture and Events, Akure, where a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Kolawole Babatunde, emerged as the new State Chairman.

Speaking with newsmen, the Independent National Electoral Commission’s spokesperson in Ondo State, Yinka Ogunseye, explained that the commission did not monitor the congress because it had not received any directive from INEC headquarters to do so.

“There is no directive from the INEC headquarters to monitor the congress,” Ogunseye said.

He further noted that the commission could not act in violation of a subsisting court order.

“There is no way the commission can disobey a court injunction,” he added.

A Federal High Court sitting in Akure had on Monday granted an interim order restraining INEC from recognising or validating the Ward and Local Government Congresses allegedly conducted by the APC in February, as well as the proposed State Congress, pending the hearing of a Motion on Notice.

The order also directed parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum.

However, at the congress held on Tuesday, Babatunde emerged alongside 35 other members of the State Working Committee through consensus and affirmation by delegates.

Governor Lucky  Aiyedatiwa, who addressed party members at the event, described the congress as a reaffirmation of the party’s unity and internal democracy.

“Today’s congress is more than a routine political exercise. It is a reaffirmation of our shared commitment to party supremacy, unity, inclusiveness and discipline,” the governor said.

He commended aspirants who stepped down to allow consensus and urged members to prioritise the collective interest of the party over personal ambitions.

In his acceptance speech titled “A New Dawn of Unity and Progress,” Babatunde pledged to run an inclusive and transparent administration, declaring that there was no winner or loser in the exercise.

“There is no winner or loser. I am for all, and against none,” he said, promising to strengthen grassroots mobilisation and deepen internal democracy within the party.

The development comes amid ongoing legal challenges by aggrieved party members who are contesting the legitimacy of the congresses in court. The matter has been adjourned for further hearing later in March.