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  • We will emerge stronger, united after Gov primary, says APC chairman

    We will emerge stronger, united after Gov primary, says APC chairman

    Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, has dismissed fears the party may implode after the April 20th governorship primary of the party.

    Adetimehin said the outcome of the party’s primary election would make the party stronger, stable and united.

    Adetimehin, who spoke during a meeting with governorship aspirants of the party in Akure, said there would be no internal crisis in the party after the primary.

    The Ondo APC chairman said President Bola Tinubu would be proud of the outcome of the primary and the candidate to be selected by the party.

    According to him: “We cannot afford to fail or send wrong signals from the President’s political base to other political actors in other geopolitical zones by not getting our acts right during the exercise.

    “You will recall that our Party has adopted the direct mode in the conduct of the 25th April 2024 gubernatorial primary election for the first time in the history of such previous elections held by it in our state.

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    “Pursuant to the above, we owe it as a great responsibility on our part to intimate you with the guidelines as released by the National Working Committee.

    “The greatest challenge before us is the need to keep a united front for the Party before and after the forthcoming primary election.

    “Let me assure you that the State Working Committee and the State Executive Committee under my leadership will do our utmost to fulfil our responsibilities in spite of any kind of challenges to ensure we provide a level playing ground for a free, fair, credible and smooth primary election.

    “We will also ensure that due process is followed in all Party decisions and we shall abide by all extant laws, rules, and guidelines as provided by the National Working Committee with a view to enable Party members to vote the best candidate of their choice.

    “At this juncture, let me warm that the Party will not tolerate any form of acrimony, violence, thuggery, name-calling, hate-speeches, destruction of billboards (which are supposed to promote not only the aspirant but more importantly the Party) and disruption of meetings or any form of unproductive dichotomy.

    “Let me inform you that a Disciplinary Committee would be put in place, where all infractions would be looked into in line with the Party’s Constitution.

    “We must leverage on this amazing human capital that we have to pick any of them, to clinch the ticket and take the Party to victory during the Saturday, November 16, 2024 governorship election.

    “We have a big task ahead; our journey as a Party in the past seven years has not been without trials and tribulations, but it is in our resolve to overcome these challenges that we discover our true strength.”

  • Ondo APC factions align for Buhari’s victory

    Leaders and supporters of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Ondo state have assured of their commitments to work for the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari and other APC candidates.

    At the campaign flag-off of the candidate for Idanre/Ifedore House of Representatives, Bamidele Baderinwa at Igbara-Oke, headquarters of Ifedore local government, the former state deputy governor, Ali Olanusi and former APC chairman in the state, Isaac Kekemeke said they had resolved to ensure the victory of all APC candidates in next month elections.

    According to Kekemeke, both Akeredolu and Ade Adetimehin-led Executives had denied their alleged support for some Action Alliance, (AA) candidates in the state.

    He particularly urged the electorate to give massive votes to Baderinwa and President Buhari for more development.

    The former APC chairman said, “we had earlier accused (Akeredolu and Adetimehin) of anti-party by supporting AA but the governor who is the leader of APC in the state had denied such allegation through a statement by his commissioner for information.

    “Also, the party’s chairman (Adetimehin) in an interview with reporters denied working with AA. We believe them and we believe all of us can work together for victory of Buhari, Baderinwa and all our party’s candidates”.

    Kekemeke, a one-time Secretary to the Ondo state government (SSG) urged voters in the state to rally round the APC and ensure the victory for the party in the state.

    Olanusi assured that the APC would win massively during the next general elections in the state.

    According to him,the impressive performance of President Buhari and the popularity of APC would facilitate victory at the polls through massive votes.

    Baderinwa,who said he believed in all inclusive democracy through massive empowerment rather than temporary succour that would not stand the test of time, promised to represent the interests of his constituents if re-elected.

    He noted the nation had been faced with serious economic recession,which had affected all facets of life.

    The National Assembly candidate urged Nigerians to pray for the leadership of the country under President Buhari for divine direction rather unwarranted abuses on his personalities.

  • Ondo APC candidate sues INEC, Party Excos over primary

    A House of Assembly candidate for Okitipupa II Constituency under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) Ololade Gbegudu has dragged the party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court for failure to publish his name as candidate after winning the party’s primary.

    In a suit filed by Gbegudu’s counsel, A.A. Solagbade-Amodeni of Femi Emadomore& Co also joined APC State Chairman, Ade Adetimehin, Secretary, Sina Alaye, and an Assembly Aspirant, Sina Emmanuel as defendants.

    Ololade-Gbegudu in the suit, said he instituted the case after APC and its officers refused to send his client’s name to INEC in line with the 2010 Electoral Act having won the primary exercise was conducted through direct primary on October 5, 2018 and duly monitored by the officials of INEC led by Etukumo U. Andrew, policemen and the Department of State Services (DSS) personnel.

    Justice Olabode Adegbehingbe granted an application brought by the counsel to enable the claimant served INEC and the APC headquarters in Abuja.

    He promised to give the case an accelerated hearing in view of its nature.

    The lawyer urged the court to declare as illegal the substitution of the claimant’s name with Akinwunmi’s name and compel INEC to recognize and publish Gbegudu’s name as the APC candidate for the Okitipupa Constituency II in the 2019 State House of Assembly election.

    The Claimant averred that he won the direct primary for the Okitipupa Constituency II for the Ondo State House of Assembly with 4,000 votes to beat five other aspirants including Akinwunmi whose name was wrongly submitted to INEC by the party’s officials.

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    The Plaintiff’s lead counsel, Emadomore said, “the total number of accredited voters at the said direct primary election as recorded by the representatives of the 1st Defendant (APC) were 7,000 while the total valid votes were 6,500, out of which he scored the 4,000 due to his overwhelming popularity at the constituency and was declared winner of the primary.

    The Lawyer alleged that, “the falsified result, the name of the Claimant (Gbegudu Ololade ) is still visible in the certification column at the bottom of the Result Sheet as the winner.

    ” The Claimant’s name was however simply crossed out with a biro/pen (not even completely wiped or blurred out with paint) and on top of it was written in ink the words: Winner-Sina Akinwumi Emmanuel, as against the proper certification column already printed in the result sheet”

    Emadomore claimed that, “the 4th Defendant (Akinwunmi) in this case scored zero (0) as attested to by the APC Ondo State Legislative Primaries Election Committee.

    He said”The Claimant shall in this regard rely on the original (counter-part) of the Summary Result Sheet for State House of Assembly duly signed by Abuh Andrew Abuh and Ahmed Musa Momoh as the Chairman and Secretary of the APC Ondo State Legislative Primaries Election Committee respectively and given to each of the candidates, including the Claimant”.

    ” We want an order of mandatory injunction directing the 5th Defendant (INEC) to recognize, publish and/or treat the name of the Claimant as the candidate of the 1st Defendant (APC) for the Okitipupa Constituency II of the Ondo State House of Assembly for the general election for the said constituency seat scheduled to hold on March 2,2019 or such other date(s) as the 5th defendant may fix for the election”.

  • Rumblings in Ondo over APC’s disqualification of Akeredolu’s men from NASS Primaries

     

    …Action Illegal, A Declaration of War Against APC Constitution – Akeredolu

     

     

    …NWC should return Our Money or risk Mass Action- Adetimehin

     

     

    …Oshiomole has committed impeachable offence- Northern Governor

     

     

    … Edo Voters will vote those you imposed on Ondo people, group tells Oshiomole   

     

    The last minute controversial decision of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to disqualify all aspirants loyal to the Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu from participating in the National Assembly Primaries of the party that is supposed to hold today across the state is currently causing palpable tension in the sunshine state.

     

    The party had on Monday in a statement by its Acting National Working Committee announced disqualification of all Aspirants running for Senate and House of Representatives where there’s an incumbent.

     

    The party disqualified a Human Rights Activist and Lawyer, Dr. Tunji Abayomi and former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Victor Olabimtan from contesting to return Professor Robert Ajayi Borofice unopposed to run for third term among others across the state.

     

    But party executives from war to state level, cabinet members, party members and groups loyal to Akeredolu as splitting fire, warning the Adams Oshiomole led NWC of the party to be ready to face dire consequences if the action is not rescinded.

     

    Their grievances, amongst many things is that the last minute disqualification of Aspirants from participating in the primaries after fulfilling all requirements known to law to allow incumbent Senators and Reps to return unopposed is not only illegal but fraudulent, surreptitious, clandestine and irresponsible.

     

    Accusing the NWC of the party of breaching the party’s law and acting dictatorial, Akeredolu in chat with our correspondent on Wednesday asked APC’s NWC rhetorically “where do they derive powers to disqualify aspirants duly screened and certified  fit to stand for election under the guise of giving automatic  ticket to incumbent Senators and Reps members from”

     

    Buttressing his affirmation, a totally embittered Akeredolu fired another salvo “This is a declaration of war against our party constitution. The decision to rig out our loyal and committed members from exercising their right after collecting money for nomination form from them was taken by few individuals.

     

    “Legally, if such a fundamental decision is to be taking, it would have to be ratified by the National Executive Committee (NEC) on behalf of the convention since the convention cannot be convened now. It is NEC that acts on behalf of the convention. But from nowhere, a gladiator of illegally took a decision to ban my people from exercising their rights and they expected me to comply? This action will certainly boomerang if not addressed” Akeredolu threatened.

     

    Corroborating Akeredolu, the Chairman of APC in Ondo State, Engr Ade Adetimehin said his people have given the NWC of the party 24 hours to withdraw the action or face a never-seen-before mass protest.

     

    “All we are saying is that APC in Ondo State does not agree with the position of the NWC. We met here and decide in favour of Indirect Primaries as method of selecting our candidates as stated in our party constitution but NWC overruled us; we complied, now, Abuja is saying no primaries again, they have imposed people, some of whom are not even our members in the face of law to fly our ticket. This is unacceptable.

     

    “Let me say very expressly that we shall wage war against the decision of some few cabal to turn our party to a rogue party. You cannot encourage people to obtain forms at such extravagant amount and then overnight tell them they aren’t allowed to contest. On what ground? This is fraudulent and an act of stealing by tricky.

     

    Exploding like a valiant soldier without a dint of fear, Adetimehin asked “why collecting money from party member for nomination form since you knew you wanted to give automatic ticket to some people? We demand a refund with accrued interest paid.

     

    “But let me say for the sake of clarity and without any fear or favour that this totalitarian action was not unilaterally taken by NWC, it was a decision of a few individuals acting the script of an oligarchy.” Adetimehin averred.

     

    In a related development, a Political Pressure Group, Change Nigeria Movement (CNM) has sent a sticker to the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomole over the disqualification of all members of the party loyal to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu from participating in National Assembly primaries, describing the action as a humiliation taken too far against a sitting Governor.

     

    Read also:New twists in battle for National Assembly tickets in Ondo

     

    The group wondered what the offence of Akeredolu is that he cannot be forgiven despite his unalloyed loyalty and tremendous commitment he has shown to the growth and sustenance of the party since it was founded years ago.

     

     

    In a statement on Wednesday in Akure, the state capital, the National Secretary of the group, Comrade Adeniyi Bankole advised Oshiomole against running APC like Labour Movement, stressing that his action against loyal party members is an antithesis of all tenets known to democratic principles.

     

     

    The group who accused Oshiomole of causing division in Ondo APC, warned that the former President of Nigerian Labour Congress and Immediate past Governor of Edo Strate must be ready to bring voters from his country home to vote for those he imposed against the people of Ondo State in next year general election.

     

     

    “If truly the power of the people is the utmost in a democracy, we can assure Oshiomole that only his people from Edo State would vote for those he has imposed against our people in Ondo State. We declare him a personal-non-grata until he reversed his autocratic decision.”

     

     

    Furthermore, a governor from North West who does not want to be quoted for now told our reporter over the phone on Wednesday that Oshiomole has committed an impeachable offence. He said “It is at variance with the agreement reached between the Chairman of the party and the governors that everyone will be allowed to go and contest. The decision taken in Abuja was for everyone to go test his or her popularity at primaries.

     

     

    “The decision to disqualify so many people under the pretext of giving some people automatic ticket is antithesis of democracy because neither the APC constitution nor democracy allows that you give automatic ticket unless it is unanimously taken. You can only give automatic ticket if the people you are representing agree and that is what the constitution of the party defines as consensus.”

     

    Speaking further, the Governor said “If you have a preference for a candidate, the constitution allow you to support your candidate to win. There is no provision in the APC constitution that allows for automatic ticket.

     

    “As i am talking to you, 10 governors are aggrieved against Oshiomole but we shall see where it will all end. Ondo is boiling, there’s war in Niger, there’s no peace in Ogun State, Kebbi is not at ease, all with no thanks to Oshiomole” the governor said with an emotion-laden voice.

     

    Our correspondent gathered that APC Governors will meet later tonight or tomorrow to protest meet in Abuja to protest imposition of candidates by Oshiomole, threatening to fight it by all means necessary.

  • Primaries: Count me out of any backdoor arrangement – Boroffice

    The senator representing Ondo North Senatorial District, Prof Ajayi Boroffice on Wednesday reacted to an allegation raised by the state chairman of the All Progressives Congress(APC) Ade Adetimehin that he was involved in backdoor arrangement to secure the ticket of the party to represent Ondo North District for next year’s election.

    Through a statement by his press secretary, Kayode Fakuyi, the lawmaker said he was aware of a statement by a faction of APC in the state, through which the faction hurled abuses and made litany of spurious and baseless allegations against him.

    According to the statement”It is a matter of public records, that Senator Boroffice has participated and won competitive elections in the past.

    “As it was done in the past, on Tuesday, Senator Ajayi Boroffice rolled out his political machinery across the 72 wards in Ondo North senatorial district for a competitive primary election. We were at designated voting centres when the National leadership of APC published results of the screening exercise.

    Read Also: Ondo: APC returns Boroffice, others as Senatorial candidates

    “As regards the screening exercise, we are aware the party considered many parameters, including qualification, competence, experience and loyalty to the ideology of the APC.

    “Therefore, Boroffice should be counted out of any backdoor arrangement. As a matter of fact, the allegation of backdoor arrangement is an imaginative and imagined fabrication. There is no such thing like backdoor arrangement”.

    It noted that APC released results of screening exercise for the three senatorial districts in Ondo state,but Adetimehin’s faction chose to single out Boroffice for media attacks.

    The statement however assured party leaders and stakeholders that the Asiwaju of Akoko would mobilise party members and electorates in the 72 wards of Ondo North senatorial district and beyond for the victory of the APC at all levels in the 2019 general elections.

  • Boroffice to IGP: Probe assassination attempt on my life

    The last Saturday’s assassination attempt on the life of a lawmaker representing Ondo North Senatorial District, Prof. Ajayi Boroffice in Owo has continued to generate ripples among the All Progressives Congress (APC) fold in the state.

    The ruling party in a statement by its spokesman,Alex Kalejaye said Boroffice’s attackers were not APC members.

    But a statement by Boroffice’s media unit insisted that some aides of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu have cases to answer with the IGP’s crack team over  the assassination attempt.

    The statement reads “Following the failed and foiled assassination attempt on the life of Senator Ajayi Boroffice on Saturday in Owo, the media unit of the senator is concerned that while the Ade Adetimehin-led faction of All Progressives Congress in Ondo State has not deem it right to condemn the attack, the faction has issued two contradictory statements on the incident within 24 hours.

    “In one breath, the faction through its spokesman, Kalejaye, confirmed that some aggrieved members of the party in Owo invaded the venue of the campaign. In another press statement, the faction through same spokesman said the assailants are not party members. The faction should stop undermining the image of APC with its seeming confusion.

    “Also, it is our considered view that the statements credited to the Commissioner for information in Ondo State and the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Governor on the matter are watery innuendos. They neither cleared, nor disassociated their boss”.

    Boroffice’s spokesman, Kayode Fakuyi said the insinuation raised by  Adetimehin-led faction that the attack on Senator Ajayi Boroffice was stage-managed by the supporters of the senator was most unfortunate.

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    He noted that supporters of the lawmaker have never stage-managed such incident in the past,stressing that they have no tendency to stage-manage such incident.

    According to him “They have no reason whatsoever to stage-manage such incident. The supporters of the senator could not have stage-managed an attack that was coordinated by appointees of the governor.

    “It is quite daft for any group to insinuate supporters of the senator mobilised armed thugs to attack themselves. If such lie was invented with the hope of diverting and distracting the course of investigation, the lie has failed to achieve its objectives.

    He said preliminary investigation on the attack revealed that the attack was coordinated by appointees of Governor Akeredolu.

    Fakuyi alleged that the duo of Senior Special Adviser (SSA)on Security to the Governor, Alhaji Jimoh Dojumo and Special Adviser to the Governor on Natural Resources, Lawal Fatai Olusina have cases to answer with the Inspector General of Police’s crack team on the incident.

    He urged security agencies in the state to be on the alert,stressing that the greatest threats to peace in the state seed the people with the responsibilities to protect lives and properties of the citizenry.

  • Partial Presidential primary in Ondo

    The Presidential Primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) took place in many wards in Ondo state, but in some wards, it did not hold.

    Our correspondent, who monitored the exercise in Idanre Local government, noted that party loyalists converged in some wards.

    The state chairman of the party, Ade Adetimehin described the exercise as successful.

    Read Also: My plan for Ondo North, by aspirant

    Some other party members lauded the exercise.

    It was however gathered from other councils’ area that the exercise did not really hold at all.

    A source within the party who spoke on condition of anonymity, said fund was not released from the national headquarters for the conduct of the primary.

  • 2019: Constituents demand return of Ondo Speaker

    Apparently satisfied with the performance of the Speaker, Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon Bamidele Oleyelogun, the people of Ifedore local government area of the state have demanded that he should retain his seat at the parliament after 2019 elections.

    The constituents including the royal fathers, Youth, and women groups endorsed Oleyelogun who is also the Chairman, Conference of Speakers in the Southwest for another term in office.

    According to them,” We are happy about the proactive representation of the incumbent Speaker, whom they described as worthy son.

    The monarchs particularly sought the cooperation of other aspirants in Ifedore local government to step down for the Speaker to prevent the local government area from losing out the number three position in the state.

    The royal fathers hailed members of the State Assembly for believing in Oloyelogun by electing him as their leader.

    They also appreciated Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, his Deputy Agboola Ajayi and the Party chairman, Ade Adetimehin for trusting the leadership of Oleyelogun in leading a critical arm of government.

    Ifedore constituents believed in the dictum that “there is no point changing the winning team”,stressing that there was peaceful coexistence between Executives and Legislative arm of Government  in the State.

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    They also praised Akeredolu for appointing their son as Commissioner of Health, Adviser on Transport and Special Assistant.

    The Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi represented the governor at the Oleyelogun International Foundation (OIF) held at the weekend which empowered more than 200 widows, aged women, Physically challenged and women group across all the wards and town in Ifedore local government.

    Akeredolu commended various ongoing developmental projects ongoing in Ifedore, while appreciating the speaker for ensuring harmonious relationship with the state governor especially on various developmental projects.

    Oleyelogun at the event rendered his score cards with documentary and pictorial evidence.

    Some parents testified that Oleyelogun was sponsoring their children even in private higher institutions with laboratory equipment, renovation of health centers and youth empowerment annually.

    He thanked his constituents for the confidence reposed in him, stressing that as Deputy Leader of Conference of Speakers in Nigeria he would accept the request of the people to serve again.

  • Ondo APC mourns Ex-ACN Chair

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in Ondo State has mourned the exit of one of its leaders, Chief Noah Adesoji.

    The late political and community leader passed on last weekend at the age of 83. He was the Ondo State Chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

    The State Chairman of the APC, Ade Adetimehin, described the death of the octogenarian as a deep blow to the State chapter, “especially at this time when he should be reaping from his years of political toiling”.

    Adetimehin, who led members of the State Working Committee (SWC) to commiserate with the bereaved family in Ile-Oluji, said the departed leader lived a rewarding life,saying he was like a father to many of them.

    He said: “Pa Adesoji was a reliable and trustworthy leader; he was a party man to the core, and a progressive till his last day on earth.

    Adetimehin prayed that God would console the bereaved family.

    He informed them that Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu had assured that the State government would be deeply involved in the burial of the former progressives leader.

    Responding on behalf of the family, one of the deceased children, Kehinde Adesoji, thanked the State Government and the APC for standing by the family over the loss of their father.

    The young Adesoji said although his later father was above 80, but noted that “we never wished he should leave at this time because he remained a pillar of the family”.

  • Ondo APC to Buhari: You deserve second term

    Ondo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday inaugurated the new Executive Committee (SEC) that would pilot the affairs of the party.

    The event was coordinated by the state chairman of the party, Ade Adetimehin with the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Ifedayo Abegunde, Commissioner for Agriculture, Otunba Adegboyega Adefarati and other state officials in attendance.

    Adetimehin at the occasion lauded President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for its courage in tackling various challenges confronting the country with sincerity and utmost dedication.

    According to him, the integrity of Buhari especially on zero tolerance for corruption is unprecedented.

    Adetimehin said” the long period of looting spree and pillaging of the country under the corruption-infested administration of the former President Goodluck Jonathan cannot be curtailed within four years.

    He said “It will be in the interest of the country to return President Buhari and the ruling APC to office for another four year after 2019 election”.

    The chairman recounted the “unwholesome” activities and crises that characterized the political atmosphere during the last executive committee right from its inception especially during the gubernatorial primary and election in 2016.

    Adetimehin said” the then leadership of the party displayed a condemnable act of sabotage and gross indiscipline by engaging in anti-party activities in order to deny the party and its candidate the deserved victory which had been ordained by God.

    The chairman commended the National Electoral Officers saddled with the responsibility of various congresses in the state for their excellent job.

    He acknowledged the manner they conducted themselves within the confine of the electoral guidelines of the party, stressing that they went about their duties diligently without fear or favour.

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    Adetimehin also hailed Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for providing conducive atmosphere and the template for sanitizing the system which facilitated the free and fair conduct of the exercise.

    He urged members of the new Excos to be dedicated to their responsibility especially with the 2019 general election, stressing that he would be committed to the harmonization of the ruling party for its greatness.

    The chairman also appealed to party members that defected to other political platforms or got involved in anti-party activities to return to the APC through proper channels.

    According to him “we would continue to uphold the tenets of fair-play, decency and respect for members dignity at all times, while operating an open door administrative policy to move the party forward”.