Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State and one of the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship aspirants in Ondo State, Gbenga Edema, on Saturday, clashed over the distribution of election materials for the party’s primary.
Ododo and Edema were caught in a heated exchange BON hotel in Akure.
The Kogi State governor is the chairman of the seven-member committee overseeing the Ondo APC governorship primary.
While party members gathered at the hotel, Edema confronted Ododo, saying that election materials were to be distributed to several wards in the state.
Edema claimed that Ovie Omo-Agege, secretary of the primary election committee, had announced that “accreditation will start by 10 am, to be completed by 1 pm while voting proper will start by 1 pm and end by 2 pm”.
The aspirant further accused the Ododo-led committee of breaching the protocols for the exercise.
Responding, the governor said election materials have been sent to wards in the North and South senatorial districts in the state.
He said: “I came in this morning as early as past eight for this national assignment to humanity. You claim that there has never been material issued to any of the 203 wards.
“From the brief I have gotten from the secretary of this APC primary election, that of the north and south have been released since morning. And it remains that of the central, which is what we have been trying to sort out.”
Reacting, Edema said his ward is located in the state’s south senatorial district and “the returning officer who ought to collect materials for my ward, Mahin Ward II in Ilaje local government area, is here and unable to collect any materials.
“I’m from Ilaje LGA. [Voting material] has not been sent there. How did it arrive there? Through what medium? I have been here by 6:30 am.
“I am one of the aspirants. The returning officer who ought to collect material for my ward, Mahin Ward II, in the Ilaje local government area, is here and unable to collect any materials. He has been here since seven o’clock. No material was given to him.”