From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary that contentiously produced Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the standard bearer of the November 16 Ondo State gubernatorial election has elicited protest by the Coalition of Civil Society Observer Groups.
The Coalition Team Lead and Secretary Eleojo Emem and Oluwafemi Kayode, in a statement, argued that one critical issue that emerged during the APC primary in Ondo State was the limited awareness among party members regarding the location for the primary and its processes and modalities.
They, also, contended that the APC failed to produce the authentic party voters register, to ascertain aspirants who had paid to access the party voters register, as part of their preparations for the primary.
For them, the appointment of Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State “who is still studying governance and party politics, for such a critical assignment in a state like Ondo” was rather a slight on the people of Ondo State.
According to them, most of the delegates, electoral and returning officers controlling the crowds, accrediting voters and conducting the election were appointees, employees and loyalists of the governor.
To this end, they proposed that “the APC Governorship primary election of 20th April 2024 in Ondo State be completely cancelled and a fresh transparent, credible and all-inclusive primary election is immediately conducted within the next few days/hours considering INEC timetable and in total compliance with the party guideline and Constitution.”