The All Progressives Congress (APC) Primary Election Appeal Committee in Ondo State has reported receiving three petitions contesting the outcome of the recent governorship primary.
The petitions, filed on Monday, challenge the declared victory of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who won the primary held over the weekend.
Mr. Muhammed Abubakar, the former Bauchi State Governor and current Chairman of the Appeal Committee, announced the receipt of these petitions during a press briefing in Akure.
The complaints were lodged by aspirants Wale Akinterinwa, Jimi Odimayo, and Gbenda Edema.
Despite the controversy, Usman Ododo, Kogi State Governor and Chair of the Primary Election Committee, had earlier confirmed Aiyedatiwa’s win with 48,460 votes, surpassing 15 other candidates.
However, the primary’s integrity was questioned by several aspirants prior to the official announcement, leading to calls for its annulment.
Addressing the press at the APC headquarters in Akure, Abubakar remarked that such disputes are not uncommon, and the party’s appeal committee is prepared to address grievances arising from the primaries.
“The situation I met on the ground was an inconclusive election that needed to be repeated in one local government. They were able to repeat the election in that local government and by early this (Monday) morning, they were able to declare the results of the primary.
“It is traditional in the APC to set up a committee like this in order to follow up on the fallout of the primary election. It is as a result of this that I invited the gentlemen of the press to be here today so that I can announce to them, the presence of this committee and the readiness of this committee to receive whatever complaints as a fallout from the primary election.”
“I can assure you that within a space of a few days, we will consider the total number of petitions we received and render a report to the national headquarters of our party before the party takes a final decision on the issue of the primary. As I’m speaking with you, only three petitions have been received,” he said.
In the meantime, Governor Aiyedatiwa has extended his gratitude to all stakeholders, including the other aspirants, for their participation in the primary.
In his acceptance speech, he appealed for unity and support from his fellow contestants to secure victory in the upcoming November 16, 2024, gubernatorial election.
“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. Your participation has created so much awareness within and outside our party. You mobilised our members and removed apathy. You have also brought in numerous new members to the party. All of these have enriched our democracy and strengthened our party in the state.”
Aiyedatiwa emphasized his commitment to enhancing the state’s infrastructure, healthcare, justice system, education, and security, and recognized the contributions of the aspirants in energizing the party’s base and expanding its membership.
He called on them to join forces to further strengthen democracy and the party’s presence in Ondo State.
