Ondo APC, Aspirant Trade Words Over Alleged Hijack Of Primary

A House of Representatives aspirant for Ilaje/Ese Odo Federal Constituency on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Monday Akinyomi, has decried the alleged hijack of the party’s primary election by its leaders in Ondo State to favour an anointed candidate.

Akinyomi described the 16th May APC primary election as a sham, insisting that no credible electoral process took place despite the eventual announcement of winners.

Speaking during an interview, the aspirant said he had anticipated a free, fair and transparent exercise where party members would determine who would fly the party’s flag in the forthcoming election.

According to him, confusion trailed the exercise as there was no clearly designated venue for the primary, while different groups gathered at separate locations, claiming the election was ongoing.

He alleged that there were no officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission or recognised APC officials from Abuja and Akure at the supposed collation centre where some aspirants and supporters had assembled.

“I expected to witness a free and fair election where the people would decide who would represent them, but what I saw was nothing to write home about. There were no elections,” he said.

‎Akinyomi further alleged that the process was manipulated to favour a preferred aspirant whom he claimed lacked popularity across the constituency and the state, adding that winners later emerged through announcements circulated on social media despite the absence of visible accreditation, voting or collation.

Reacting to the allegations, the Ondo State chapter of the APC denied claims that the state leadership hijacked the process, insisting that the exercise was conducted under the authority and supervision of officials appointed by the party’s National Working Committee.

‎In a statement signed by the party’s Director of Media and Publicity, Steve Otaloro, the APC stated that the responsibility for conducting the exercise rested with the electoral officers and committees deployed from Abuja. In contrast, the state chapter provided only administrative and logistical support.

‎”It is therefore inaccurate and unfair to allege that the state leadership hijacked a process over which it had no constitutional mandate to conduct, supervise or declare results,” the statement read.