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Ondo APC Gov Primary: Aiyedatiwa Calls For Support

April 22, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

Victorious Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has called for support to build the state.

In his victory address, Governor Aiyedatiwa appealed to other aspirants to forget the past struggles and support him and the party to win the November governorship poll.

The speech : “The internally orchestrated heavy politics within our party, APC, in search of our flag-bearer in the forthcoming gubernatorial election has come to a conclusion today with the emergence of a candidate as declared by the Governorship Primary Election Committee under the chairmanship of His Excellency, Governor Usman Ododo, the Governor of Kogi State.

“Let me at this time acknowledge and thank all the aspirants who threw their hats into the ring in the family contest to be the flag-bearer: Hon. Mayowa Akinfolarin, Chief Olusola Oke, SAN, Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim, Mr. Wale Akinterinwa, Hon. Isaac D. Kekemeke, Hon. Gbenga Edema, Mr. Ohunyeye Olamide Felix, Hon. Olujimi Odimayo, Mr. Olusoji Ehinlanwo, Morayo Lebi Esq, Prince Diran Iyantan, Prof. Francis Faduyile, Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele, Mrs. Funmilayo Waheed Adekojo and Engr. Funke Omogoroye.

“Your participation has created so much awareness within and outside our party. You mobilized our members and removed apathy. You have also brought in numerous new members into the party. All of these have enriched our democracy and strengthened our party in the State.

“Democracy sometimes, after a contest like this, comes with discordant tunes. But this is not the time to hold grudges against anyone, but for all of us to come together to work for the success of our great party so as to remain in power.

“We will all gain in this party, though at different times, if we keep faith. I salute your courage and keen interest to lead the State towards development. It is your right and you are qualified and worthy members of our party.

“I want to specially thank the President and Leader of our party, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his leadership.

“I thank the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON, the National Chairman of our party, Alhaji Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, the Progressive Governors, National and State Working Committees of our party and all stakeholders in the state for their forthrightness in the processes leading to my emergence as the flag-bearer for our party in the Ondo 2024 governorship election.

“I thank all our traditional rulers, institutional heads, civil servants and all the stakeholders who have chosen me as their preferred candidate.

“I also thank all the party leaders, including the APC Aborigines, members of the campaign team and all others who toured the entire 18 local government areas together with me to engage with our party members. I do not take for granted the love shown to me by our members across the State.

“To all our party members, I hereby accept, wholeheartedly, the responsibility conferred on me as the candidate of our party by the votes of our members who turned out in their large numbers on the 20th of April 2024.

“Now, more than ever before, the greatness of Ondo State is what matters the most. I therefore request that we all join hands together in building the future that we all yearn for in Ondo state.

“There is infrastructure to be built; better healthcare services to be delivered; fair justice to be served; qualitative education to be ensured; civil servants to be trained and motivated; security of lives and properties to be strengthened; enabling environment to be created for businesses to thrive and attract investors.”

Aiyedatiwa Is It; Clinches Ondo APC Governorship Ticket; Losers Threaten Litigation

Ayodele Oni

April 22, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

It is not yet over for the governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress APC in Ondo state as defeated aspirants threaten litigation over the outcome.

Amidst protests by supporters of the aspirants, the Governor Usman Ododo led APC Primary Election Committee had declared Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa the winner of last Saturday’s governorship primary election.

The primary was conducted in the 203 wards in 18 local government area of the state.

Declaring the result at the Dome International Event Centre, Alagbaka Akure, Governor Ododo said Aiyedatiwa won in 16 out of 18 local government areas.

Ododo, while announcing Aiyedatiwa as winner, said he scored 48,569 votes to beat other 15 aspirants.

He said the other aspirants score is as follows: Wale Akinterinwa; 1,952, Olusola Oke; 14,915, Mayowa Akinfolarin; 15,343, Jimoh Ibrahim; 9,456, Isaac Kekemeke; 1,045, Gbenga Edema; 395, Olamide Ohunyeye; 424, Jimi Odimayo; 490, Olusoji Ehinlanwo; 492, Morayo Lebi; 290, Diran Iyantan; 348, Francis Faduyile; 353, Ifeoluwa Oyedele; 462, Funmilayo Waheed-Adekojo; 529 and Funke Omogoroye; 115.

While Ododo said that the total numbers of voters; 171, 922, accredited voters; 95178, total vote cast; 95178, valid votes; 95178, invalid vote; nil.

According to Ododo, who was flanked by the secretary of the committee, Ovie Omo-Agege and other members of the committee said; “reports from the field revealed that the primary election went on peacefully, and the end of the exercise, votes were counted and recorded.

“By the power conferred on the committee, and in line with APC guide lines for the nomination of the candidate, of the party in the general election, I Ahmed Usman Ododo, Governor of Kogi State and the Chairman of the Committee and the Returning Officer of the Ondo State APC governorship primary election, held on the 20th, 2024, hereby declared that Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest numbers of votes cast in the direct primary election, is hereby return elected and declare winner.”

Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola who is the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), led INEC officials to observe the collation and declaration.

Kogi: Fugitive Bello Not Hiding In Our House- Audu’s Family

James Orji

April 21, 2024

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State — Yahaya Bello

Former Governor Yahaya Bello is not hiding in our family house, Mohammed Abubakar Audu, the son of the former governor of state State, late Prince Abubakar Audu, has said.

The family said the clarification became necessary after suggestion that the immediate past governor of the state has ran to the family house for protection following his declaration as a fugitive by the federal government.

Bello has been in the wanted list of security agencies after his escape from his Abuja home last week after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, operative enveloped the building with intention to arrest him.

The magazine reports that his successor, Usman Ododo escaped with Bello in his official convoy to stop the anti-graft agency from arresting him.

Since he managed to escape arrest, there are suggestions that he’s been hiding somewhere in the state where he once served as the chief executive.

In a statement on Sunday by the Audu Family, they denied that Bello hiding in their family house in Ogbonocha, Ofu Local Government Area of the state, stressing that their home cannot be a “sanctuary” for the former governor.

The statement reads in part: “The attention of Prince Abubakar Audu’s family has been drawn to spurious and ridiculous rumors and publications circulating across various social media platforms, alleging that the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, is being harbored in our family house at Ogbonocha, Ofu Local Government Area, Kogi State. We wish to inform the public that this claim is entirely false.

“We wish to emphasize that our family house at Ogbonocha serves solely as a private residence for members of the Audu family and is not a sanctuary for any political figure, past or present.

“As custodians of our family’s heritage, we uphold the principles of honesty and integrity that Prince Abubakar Audu embodied throughout his lifetime.

“We urge the public to exercise caution and discernment when encountering such sensationalist claims, recognizing them for what they are: baseless conjecture designed to sow confusion.”

The state government had earlier denied suggestions that the former governor, who is wanted by the EFCC to answer question over an alleged N80 billion corruption was taking refuge in the Government House, Lokoja.

Obi Will Lose Presidential Election 10 Times If He Contests- Omokiri

James Orji

April 21, 2024

Reno Omokiri, a former aide to President Goodluck Jonathan has further downgraded the presidential ambition of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 election.

Obi came a distant third in the last year’s presidential election behind Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The former Anambra state governor is believed to be eyeing the presidency in 2027, and analysts insist that his recent trips across the country is in preparation for the presidential election in that year.

The LP candidate recently affirmed his plan to recontest the highest office in the country following his declaration that he intended to run under the party despite the leadership crisis rocking it.

Omokiri however told him to forget it. “At the end of the day, if you hold the presidential election 10 times, Peter Obi is still not going to win,” he posted on his verified X handle on Sunday.

According to the social media influencer, he offered Obi the same advice ahead the presidential election last year, but the presidential candidate failed to listen to him.

He explained that his advice to the LP candidate, then, was to contest with a former vice president Atiku Abubakar as his ruining mate.

Obi ignored him, he stated.

Omokiri said, “Peter Obi cannot deny that I was the one who recommended him to Waziri Atiku Abubakar. Waziri Atiku Abubakar asked me to help him to choose a running mate.

“I called former President Jonathan, I discussed with him. Former President Jonathan told me, ‘Look, it must be Peter Obi’ and then I told former President Jonathan that I can’t just give this man only one name and so we padded the list with some other people’s names and then we put Peter Obi’s name and made it so rosy.

“And, Waziri Atiku Abubakar chose Peter Obi.

“I told Peter Obi that the best path to the presidency for him is to run as Waziri Atiku Abubakar’s running mate and then be loyal to him.

“And then, when Waziri finishes his tenure, naturally the baton will change from the present to him. He didn’t listen to me.

“If you contest, you are not going to win. The only thing that you’re going to achieve in contesting is that you are going to split the People’s Democratic Party votes and make it possible for Bola Tinubu to win.

“In terms of education, Peter Obi is the least educationally qualified among the others. In terms of achievement while in office, he doesn’t come close to any of Tinubu and Atiku at all,” he stated.

Since Obi lost the presidential election last year Omokiri has been one of his ardent critics.

Ganduje’s Suspension: “Those Behind The Plot Contested Elections And Lost On NNPP Platform” Says APC

The Source

April 21, 2024

The Executive Members of the All Progressive Congress APC, Gandudje Ward in Dawakin Tofa Local Council of Kano state, have called on the National body of the party and security agencies to urgently effect the arrest and prosecution of all those directly and or remotely involved in the yet another round of purported suspension of the National Chairman Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje late on Saturday April 20 2024.

The Source reports that with dust raised by an earlier attempt last week Monday by a group led by the self acclaimed legal adviser of Ganduje Ward Haladu Gwanjo to oust the APC National Chairman ,yet to fully settle, another suspension order was issued by a group led by one Ja’far Adamu Ganduje purportedly suspending the National Chairman .

While addressing the press on Saturday April 20 ,Adamu Ganduje who claimed to be the authentic secretary of the Ganduje Ward APC ,said the suspension of Dr Ganduje stemmed from his alleged anti- party activities in the count down to the 2023 general elections which contributed considerably to the loss suffered by the party.

Besides ,Adamu, who spoke on behalf of 11 others who he described as the authentic executive members of APC Ganduje ward ,cited non payments of statutory party dues and incitement of crisis within the rank of APC Members in Ganduje as reasons for the disciplinary actions on the National Chairman.

” We are the authentic Executives of Ganduje Ward and we have passed a vote of no confidence and also imposed a suspension order on Dr Ganduje for a number of reasons” Adamu stated.

But in a press statement jointly signed by the Ganduje ward chairman and Secretary, Ahmed Muhammad Ganduje and Usaini Jibrin respectively and made available to the press on Sunday April 21,the Ganduje Ward APC leadership insisted that as the true leadership of party ,they are not aware of any new election ,not to talk of a new leadership of APC in Ganduje ward.

“To the best of our knowledge, as Executive members of Ganduje ward of APC, there was no new election of a new leadership . We remain the same Executive of the Ward ” the statement noted.

Muhammad Ganduje ,lamented that after its first botched attempt to cause disaffection in the party ,the New Nigeria Peoples Party NNPP led kano state Government has once again organized some pliable elements and non existent APC members to further push for the destabilization of the party through the unrealizable suspension of the National Chairman.

However, they emphasised that the sponsored group ,could not deliver a neat job ,as it has left behind many verifiable evidences suggesting that it is purely on paid assignment.

“The sponsored group ,couldn’t do their home work properly,as it used a fake and uncertified headed paper to draw a list of non existent party Executives .

To worsen its situation,the leader of the group, who announced the purported suspension is an NNPP member who contested but lost the Councilorship election in Ganduje Ward .” Ahmed stated.

They therefore called on the security agencies ,the APC National Leadership and all relevant authorities to arrest and ensure the prosecution of the group members for impersonation, and a calculated attempt to cause disaffection in the APC .

They also urged APC members to remain calm and ignore the latest propaganda aimed at disrupting the party .

Instructively, and in what seems to be a twist of irony ,some of those who were claimed to be part of the renewed attempt to suspend Dr Ganduje , on Sunday April 21, disassociated themselves from the exercise, insisting that they were impersonated ,and as such are headed for the courts to seek redress .

Malam Bashiru Isah Nuhu ,while speaking on behalf of 10 others with the press in kano after filing a formal petition ,at the APC state headquarters ,said they will no longer tolerate the continued insult on the person and office of the National Chairman .

” All of those whose names were impersonated in this latest show of shame have written a petition calling for the arrest and prosecution of those who impersonated our names .

” Infact to say it the way it is, ,we are not executive members of the party in Ganduje Ward,not to talk of converging a meeting in kano to suspend the National Chairman.

My self,iam just a card carrying member and all these other people whose names were linked with the purported suspension of Dr Ganduje are not Executive members of the party.

So we are taking a legal action against those that used our names in the purported suspension exercise of yesterday ( Saturday April,20,204) ” Nuhu stated.

The APC Kano Spokesperson, Ahmad Aruwa who received the petition,from the aggrieved Ganduje Ward members , assured them that the petition will be forward to the National Headquarters of the party in Abuja for necessary action..

” We have alerted the security on what has happened and we are going to ensure that we arrest those impersonators and punish them accordingly.” the APC publicity Secretary noted.

Oyo: “Our State Most Peaceful,” Govt Declared Following RCCG Pastor’s Release From Kidnappers

James Orji

April 21, 2024

Oyo state government has declared that the Pacesetters state remains the most peaceful state in the country.

The state government made this known following the release of a pastor with the Redeem Christins Church of God, RCCG from kidnappers.

The RCCG pastor, Olugbenga Olawore, the magazine recalls was abducted on Friday alongside 14 others around Lanlate-Eruwa road.

Following a manhunt for the kidnappers by security agencies, some kidnappers have been freed from their abductors.

According to the state Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, the state government is on top of the security situation in the state, that residents should rest assured

“our people should rest assured that our security apparatus in the state are fully alive and alert to their responsibilities,” Oyelade said after the release of the RCCG pastor and others.

The state recently witnessed a breach of security after some Yoruba Nation agitators took over the state Secretariat, and State House of Assembly, Agodi.

The agitators who stormed the state like invaders also succeeded in hoisting their flag in the government house.

The secessionist elements were later chased out after a gun battle with security agencies, including the Nigerian Army.

Some of them have not been arrested as search continue to fish out those who escaped and their sponsors.

Abaribe Seeks Justice For Aba Businessman Killed At Police Checkpoint

Akinwale Kasali

April 21, 2024

By Akinwale Kasali

Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe has joined the league of persons seeking justice for Emmanuel Okocha, an Aba- based businessman who was killed by a trigger happy Police man at a checkpoint in Aba, Abia State.

Okocha was shot on Wednesday along Aba-Owerri Road by Corporal Obagi Njok, during an argument following his refusal to part with some money at the checkpoint.

He later died on Friday in the hospital where he was rushed to for treatment.

Abaribe, representing Abia South Senatorial District in a Statement on Sunday described the action of the killer cop as “primitive and most unconscionable”, and called for the establishment of a judicial panel of inquiry to investigate the killing and other complaints against the police in Aba.

He also urged the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to rein in the officers involved and to ensure that similar incidents are not witnessed again in Abia.

The statement by his Media Adviser, Uchenna Awom, described “the gruesome cold blooded murder of Mr Okocha by the trigger-happy policeman on the allegation that he refused to give the said police officer money, is not only disgraceful, a serious blight on the image of the Nigeria Police but one that is unacceptable and stands condemnable by all.”

He, however, appealed for calm, but reminded the authorities that “the current sad development represents the low side of the proliferation of check points in the South East, such that it looks as if they are ‘buying and selling points’, rather than for security purposes.

“These frequent killings by law enforcement officers is becoming alarming and worrisome. People now live in fears in their own country. Our people become more terrified of the police rather than being confident in the presence of them on the roads.

“ That should not be the case. This is a country governed by laws and the officers must observe the rules of engagement, while dealing with the civil populace. The brutal murder of Mr Okocha is one too many, particularly in Aba and its environs by the police.

“To assuage the fears of the people, the policeman who allegedly shot and killed Okocha and thus left his young family without a bread winner must be made to face the full wrath of the law.

“And for other associated similar occurrences, I urge the government to set up a Judicial Panel of Enquiry to carry out a holistic inquest with the aim of nipping these ugly events in the bud’, Abaribe said.

Senator Abaribe condoled with the bereaved family, his Abriba community and people of Abia State.

Marafa Slams Matawalle Says Northern Elders Not A Burden To Nigeria

Akinwale Kasali

April 21, 2024

By Akinwale Kasali

The position of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, that the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, is a political burden to the North, has been slammed by Senator Kabiru Marafa.

Marafa said that NEF members are neither a burden nor paper weights, rather, they are respected by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He said it will be better for Matawalle to withdraw the offensive statement and tender, without delay, an unreserved apology to the Northern elders and Northerners in general.

In a statement by Marafa on Sunday titled ‘’Tinubu Presidency: Northern Elders Forum, a political burden to the North, they do not speak for the region’’, described the Northern Elders as ‘paperweights and a burden’.

He said that rather than negatively portraying the Northern elders, Matawalle should have listed the achievements, programmes and policies, projects of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the North and the country as a whole in the first 10 months of the administration.

According to him, calling the elders of the region, which has and gave the highest number of votes to ensure victory for the Tinubu presidency, was counterproductive and a great disservice to the president, who is working tirelessly towards addressing the numerous challenges facing all segments and sectors of the country, among them terrorism, insurgency, economic and financial malfeasance and infrastructural decay, to list a few.

He said that at this moment, what President Tinubu needs from his appointees is support, loyalty and hard work to actualise the Renewed Hope Agenda conceived to return the country to the path of progress and prosperity, not sycophancy and unguarded statements.

Senator Marafa said, “In the last one week, I have been inundated with calls from well-meaning and prominent stakeholders in our region and party, the APC, who know my relationship with the President.

“They are worried and disturbed that the unfortunate statement by the Minister of State for Defence, if not addressed, could affect the president’s electoral fortunes in our region because it will be seen as if the minister spoke the mind of the president or the Presidency.

“The crux of the matter is that; whether you like them or not these people are called Northern Elders, so, unless they are stripped of that title by the people of the region, insulting them is tantamount to insulting the entire people of the region.

“ It’s not in our culture and upbringing to insult elders. No descent society will refer to its elders as a burden and paperweights. The North is not an exception.

“ As one of the senators who worked very closely with Asiwaju as party leader (as he was then called) from the formation of APC through the primaries that led to the emergence of General Muhammadu Buhari as APC presidential candidate in Lagos, the politics of the National Assembly leadership in 2015 and 2019 and the processes and intrigues that characterised the 2023 Presidential Primaries, I can say without mincing words that President Tinubu holds the North, the Northerners, and their leaders in high esteem.

“ Although, I’m not the mouthpiece of either the president or the Presidency, as a Northerner and an elder in the region, as an APC stakeholder and one that has worked closely with both the president and the Vice President, I want to state categorically that this view expressed by Mr Matawalle is his personal opinion and not in any way that of Mr President or the Presidency, and should, therefore, be disregarded.

“I know for sure that the North, Northerners and the Northern elders are neither a burden nor a paperweight in the scheme of things in the region and the country as a whole. The president shares this view, and therefore he is with me on this.”

Nigeria Set To Join Countries Using CNG Vehicles, 600 Buses To Be Delivered This Year

Ayodele Oni

April 21, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

The Federal Government on Sunday gave an update on Presidential CNG Initiative, which was launched in October last year.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga disclosed that after months of detailed planning and background work, the committee driving the initiative is set to deliver on President Tinubu’s vision and promise.

He stated in a statement that already, the committee, being led by Michael Oluwagbemi, an oil and gas expert, has delivered some major foundational reforms to enable the new CNG and Electric Vehicles.

He said “All is now ready for delivery of the first set of critical assets for deployment and launch of the CNG initiative ahead of the first anniversary of the Tinubu administration on May 29.

“After the removal of the wasteful fuel subsidy on May 29, 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu launched the Presidential CNG Initiative in October last year to deliver cheaper, safer and more climate friendly energy. The CNG Initiative was designed to deliver compressed natural gas especially for mass transit.

“The Federal Government as part of the many intervention programmes to reduce the burden of increase in pump price on the masses, provided N100 billion (part of the N500 billion palliative budget) to purchase 5500 CNG vehicles (buses and tricycles), 100 Electric buses and over 20,000 CNG conversion kits, alongside spurring the development of CNG refilling stations and electric charging stations.

“With necessary tax and duty waivers approved by President Tinubu in December 2023, the PCNGI committee is partnering with the private sector to deliver the promise on the initiative.

“The private sector has responded with over $50 million in actual investments in refuelling stations, conversion centres, and mother stations.

“Also, a safety policy document on 80 standards and regulations that must be strictly adhered to by operators has been developed and approved to ensure CNG conversions are done safely and reliably.

“The deployment of CNG buses and tricycles and the vision to get at least one million natural gas propelled vehicles on our roads by 2027 will mark a major energy transition in our country’s transportation industry.

“The use of more expensive diesel and PMS will gradually be phased out, when many vehicles, including trucks run on natural gas, which our nation has in abundance in at least 30 out of the 36 states of the federation.

“As studies have shown, one of the main causes of air pollution is primarily the amount of gases emitted by gasoline and diesel engines.

“To reduce the pollution, some countries of the world, such as India, China, Iran, Pakistan, Brazil , Argentina, Italy have built fleets of natural gas powered vehicles, instead of going the route of relying on liquid petroleum products propelled vehicles.

“Natural gas vehicles reduce tail pipe emission by up to 40 percent, and Nigeria’s commitment to this course will enable her meet her nationally determined commitments (NDCs) under Paris Climate Accord to which we are signatory.

“From the end of May, Nigeria will take some baby steps to join such nations that already have large fleets of CNG vehicles.

“Remarkably, the Tinubu administration, in driving the nation to the desired destination, has flagged open a new industry, along with thousands of new jobs.

“In all, over 600 buses are targeted for production in the first phase that will be accomplished this year.

“In collaboration with the private sector, the PCNGI is set to deliver 100 conversion workshops and 60 refuelling sites spread across 18 states before the end of this year.

“The vision of Mr. President to deliver one million gas vehicles cannot be possible without the private sector, including the RTEAN, NARTO, NURTW, and players in the downstream sector of the transportation chain and financiers.”

“We Will Teach Them How To Conduct Gov Primary” – PDP Ondo Chapter Mocks APC Over Inconclusive Election

Ayodele Oni

April 21, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo state has condemned inability of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state to produce its governorship candidate for November election almost 24 hours after the conduct of the primary election.

Chairman of the APC election committee and Kogi state Governor Ododo had declared the primary election inconclusive as he ordered fresh poll in Okitipupa local government on Sunday.

The PDP in a statement on Sunday signed by Kenedy Peretei, its spokesman, stated that “The over hyped All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Primary Election in Ondo State turned out to be a huge charade and a mockery of democracy in every sense of the word.

“The National headquarters of the party raked in a handsome sum of N830m from unsuspecting aspirants who took photographs with their Nomination Forms in Abuja with their supporters.

“Little did they know that, the exercise would be an anticlimax and their aspirations to occupy the number one seat in the State completely eclipsed and all the efforts headed for the dustbin.

“The signs that all would not be well emerged 48 hours before the primary when five of the aspirants petitioned the APC National Headquarters about irregularities on the accredited members for the primary.

“Four years ago, former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, who has been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) for N85 billion fraud, presided over a similar event in Akure, where none of the aspirants, sighted the Delegates list before the primary.

“As at the morning of the election, it was not clear whether it was going to be Direct or Indirect primary. That was the exercise that produced former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu as candidate of the APC for 2020 Governorship election.

“This time, Gov Ahmed Usman Ododo, Bello’s successor in office has wrecked more havoc than his boss.

“Journalists who tried to monitor the primary were shocked that in almost all the centres that elections were supposed to hold, there were no election materials, neither were there officials to conduct the exercise. The Akure City Hall, one of the supposed centers was empty as at 1.00pm.

“Instead, there were reported cases of violence in Akure South and Okitipupa Local Government Areas, where political thugs had a field day.

“In one of the videos that was seen online to create impression that the exercise held, the returning officer counted to 400 and jumped to 560. Some of the aspirants have since called for the cancellation of the exercise.

“If the APC cannot conduct a free, fair, transparent and credible primary election for 171,922 of their members, they should perish the idea of presiding over the affairs of Ondo State beyond the eight years in which they have practically stagnated the State.

“It is a shame that, the APC cannot bring only one of their sixteen aspirants to square up with other political parties in the general election through a process that is above board.

“That alone, is an affirmation that, the party should be consigned to dustbin of history, where it rightfully belongs.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ondo State Chapter will once again demonstrate its superior organizational sagacity and democratic credentials this week, through a Governorship Primary Election that will be covered live by media houses and Non-Governmental Organizations in the full glare of the world.

“As at the early hours of today, Journalists were still waiting for the outcome of the charade that Usman Ododo and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege called a primary election in Ondo State.”

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