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  • Ondo APC primary: Ganduje lauds Ododo

    Ondo APC primary: Ganduje lauds Ododo

    …Adetimehin: Party will support Aiyedatiwa 

    The chairman of Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary committee and Governor of Kogi state, Usman Ododo on Wednesday, April 24, submitted his report to the national chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.

    Receiving the report at the party secretariat in Abuja, Ganduje congratulated the Ododo for a well done, noting that it was his first national assignment as governor. 

    Also, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa stormed the state party secretariat in Akure, the state capital, where the chairman, Ade Adetimehin, promised that the party would actively support and mobilise for him to win at the poll. 

    Hailing Ododo, the national chairman said the collation of results from the 203 wards across the 18 local government areas t was viewed live on national television.

    He described it as a rare display of transparency and integrity of the entire election process. 

    Ododo thanked the APC National Working Committee (NWC) for finding him and his committee members worthy of the important national assignment.

    He said the committee’s report took cognizance of everything that transpired during the primary and made recommendations that will enable the party to deal with the aftermath of the primary and ensure that the Ondo APC goes into the November poll as a united party ready to retain power.

    Ododo was accompanied by the Secretary to the Committee, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Kogi State APC Chairman, Honourable Abdullahi Bello, House of Representatives member from Ajaokuta Constituency, Abdulrahim Egidi and the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Deedat Ozigi Salami.

    In Akure, Aiyedatiwa paid a ‘Thank You’ visit to the state secretariat of the party.

    Read Also: Ondo APC primary: Let us work together for November victory, Aiyedatiwa tells opponents

    Accompanied by some party leaders and supporters, the governor received cheers from residents as his motorcade made its way to the party office.

    Aiyedatiwa was received by members of the State Working Committee (SWC), led by Adetimehin, who said the visit was a sign of unity within the party. 

    Adetimehin said the governor has shown leadership by coming to meet the SWC after his victory at the primary, according to a statement by his chief press secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan.

    He said: “Primary election in APC is a family affair. We have elected our governorship candidate. Now that the primary is over, we must remain the same progressive family and we must all come together for the election in November. 

    “The last time the governor was here, he came as an aspirant but today, he has come as the candidate of our party. Now that our candidate has emerged, all other aspirants and party leaders must join hands to support him for the success of the party in the November election.

    “We have what it takes to win and we have a good candidate. Most of the leaders of the opposition parties are already planning to join our party. We must win in a landslide in November as a ruling party with credible candidate.”

     Aiyedatiwa thanked the leadership of the party for providing an enabling environment for the conduct of a free and fair primary election that produced him as a candidate. 

    He said: “Primary has come and gone; all aspirants are winners. It was a family affair of a contest and we are all members of the same family. We now need to put our house for the battle ahead.”

    Aiyedatiwa also thanked members of the various committees from the National Secretariat that conducted the election, as well as members of the party for their participation in the primary. 

    He later unveiled his campaign headquarters located along Oba Adesida Road in Akure. 

  • Ondo APC primary: Aiyedatiwa begins LG tour

    Ondo APC primary: Aiyedatiwa begins LG tour

    Ondo state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has begun his campaign tour of local government to woo members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to vote for him at the party primary scheduled for April 20th.

    Aiyedatiwa commenced the tour after he was cleared to contest by the National Secretariat of the party.

    Addressing APC members at Ifedore, Ondo West, Ondo East and Ileoluji-Okeigbo, Governor Aiyedatiwa said all rumours about his eligibility have been laid to rest.

    Read Also; How governors usurp Ifa’s role in choice of traditional rulers

    Governor Aiyedatiwa urged party members with membership cards to come out enmase and vote for him to emerge as the party’s candidate.

    Aiyedatiwa said he was impressed by the support from party members, and promised not to take the support for granted.

    The governor also paid visit to traditional rulers in the various localities.

  • Ondo APC primary: Why Ondo South leaders won’t support Aiyedatiwa, says Odimayo

    Ondo APC primary: Why Ondo South leaders won’t support Aiyedatiwa, says Odimayo

    A governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state and the lawmaker representing Irele/Okitipupa Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Jimi Odimayo, has explained why leaders of Ondo South senatorial district will not support the ambition of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to remain in office after February 2025.

    He said although it is the turn of Ondo South to produce the next governor, the amended Constitution barred Aiyedatiwa from seeking another term in office if he won the November governorship polls.

    Odimayo said the leaders of Ondo South would not support any aspirant who would spend only four years in office.

    Odimayo, who spoke at a media parley in Akure, cautioned the national leadership of the APC not to make the mistake of fielding the wrong candidate for the party at the polls.

    Odimayo stated that Ondo South deserves a governor who would serve two-term in office, adding that it would be right for any aspirant who would be deprived of spending another term to jettison his governorship ambition in the best interest of Ondo South senatorial district.

    He stated that opposition political parties were waiting to harvest from the mistake of the ruling party.

    He said: “If you attempt to bring anybody short of 8 years we would struggle in the next election. If you flag off anybody who is not up to task especially someone who would not do eight years, people would not support you. Our leaders should not be sentimental because people are watching

    “We, the southerners, will ensure that APC doesn’t produce anybody that would be questionable or challenged by the opposition party. We are going to address our challenges as a party, we are not going to make a mistake, and APC is a predominant party in Ondo state.

    Read Also: Aiyedatiwa pardons 28 suspects, orders rehabilitation

    “Basically, it is the turn of the South, and the party would not play with it. We want the party to utilise this opportunity. We have eight years, we will not tolerate anything less than eight years for the South. So, we should be very careful not to go into a trap with our enemies.”

    Odimayo promised to key into the blue economy of President Bola Tinubu to create jobs and boost the economy.

    He said he would subsidise the health sector for patients suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure.

    The lawmaker added: “My aspiration is not just about winning an election; it is about ushering in a new era of progress and development for Ondo State.

    “I will also champion initiatives to address public health challenges such as maternal and child mortality, infectious diseases, and non-communicable diseases. Recognising the pressing healthcare needs of our people, particularly in the face of chronic diseases like hypertension, I vow to provide accessible and free healthcare services, placing the well-being of every resident of Ondo State at the forefront of my administration’s agenda.

     “Our youth are the future of Ondo State, and investing in their education and empowerment is paramount. I am committed to revitalizing our educational system, from primary schools to tertiary institutions, by improving infrastructure, enhancing curriculum, and providing scholarships and vocational training opportunities.”

  • Ondo 2024: Fears over plot to disrupt APC primary

    Ondo 2024: Fears over plot to disrupt APC primary

    Chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State have raised the alarm over plot by supporters of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to scuttle the April 20 primary election of the party.

    The chieftains alleged that part of the plans was to recruit 50 thugs from each of the 18 local governments.

    They said Governor Aiyedatiwa’s supporters, known as the ‘Red Beret’, met recently in Akure to perfect plans on how to disrupt the primary.

    Spokesman for the APC leaders, Adewale Ibraheem, spoke at a media parley in Akure.

    Read Also: Proposed NLC stakeholders meeting a jamboree, says LP

    He said the APC primary might be aborted if the thugs carried out their plans.

    Sixteen aspirants have obtained expression of interest and nomination forms of the APC.

    Reacting, spokesman for Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot Soldiers (LACO-FS), Kayode Fasua, said APC members bandying cooked-up story were enemies of the party.

    He said the Akure meeting

    was attended by APC members in the locality to appraise performances of the campaign efforts in the local government.

    Fasua urged those he termed desperadoes within the Ondo APC to readdress themselves and give vent to party rules and regulations by stopping mudslinging against Governor Aiyedatiwa.

  • Ondo APC primary: We will emerge stronger, united, says chair

    Ondo APC primary: We will emerge stronger, united, says chair

    • Party cautions aspirants against unguarded utterances

    • Group rallies support for Oke ahead of governorship poll

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

    Adetimehin, an engineer, 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.

    He said President Bola Ahmed 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.

    Read Also: Why we did not recover $69.4 million electricity debt, by NBET

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

    “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 field 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 members vote for the best candidate of their choice.

    Ondo State chapter of the APC has urged aspirants to the party’s ticket in the April 20 primary election to avoid utterances that could heat up the polity.

    The party in its Easter message to members yesterday in Akure issued by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Alex Kalejaye, said its focus remained to support a conducive atmosphere for the emergence of a popular candidate.

    According to Kalejaye, the party is waxing stronger, intimidating to other political parties and is the most organised and viable party in the state. He hailed the loyalty and commitment of its leaders and members thus far, assuring its teeming members of better days ahead.

    Kalejaye said the party was optimistic that Nigeria’s economy would get better soon.

    “We rejoice with our members, and indeed, all Christians, over the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which symbolises victory. It is the essence of Easter celebration.

    “It is our wish that the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ will activate deeper sense of patriotism, unity within our fold, and uncommon love for our dear state in the interest of all,” he said. 

    The Omoluabi Coalition Group (OCG) yesterday endorsed Olusola Oke (SAN) for Ondo State governorship election.

    It said it had begun mobilisation for the governorship ambition of Oke in the 18 local governments.

    The group said Oke was the aspirant to beat after he picked the nomination and expression of interest forms of the APC in Abuja.

    The representative of Chief Oke and a prominent political leader and Prince of Ondo State, Idowu Ilara, said Oke had remained an illustrious son of the state, who had made indelible mark in the lives of many indigenes.

    Ilara said Oke, as the candidate of the party, was determined to meet the yearnings of the people if given the mandate.

  • ‘How Oyegun, Buni, Izunaso rigged Ondo APC primary’

    ‘How Oyegun, Buni, Izunaso rigged Ondo APC primary’

    ALL Progressives Congress (APC) National Vice Chairman (Southwest) Chief Pius Akinyelure has explained how the party’s governorship primary was manipulated, culminating in the submission of Chief Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the party’s candidate.

    Akinyelure, in a statement detailing how the primary election was rigged, named the party’s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, National Secretary Mai Mala Buni and the National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso, as the persons behind the act.

    The statement, which the APC National Vice Chairman said enjoys the support of six National Working Committee (NWC) members, accused the trio of using NWC meetings to usurp powers and unilaterally take decisions that their offices did not give them the power to take.

    It emerged that as many as three delegates’ lists for the election were in circulation at some point after the first list was tampered with.

    Izunaso, according to the statement, single-handedly removed, added or substituted names on the initial list circulated to the party’s 24 aspirants, leading to the emergence of a second list that was altered in favour of Akeredolu.

    His action enjoyed the support of Oyegun and Buni, even when other members of the NWC opposed it because it conflicted with the party’s rules.

    Akinyelure’s statement reads: “The National Organising Secretary confirmed to the NWC meeting of Monday September 19, 2016 that he actually received objections from some of the aspirants as to the delegates’ list. Then he unilaterally made the adjustments as he deemed fit.

    “It is emphasised that the National Organising Secretary performed these adjustments without recourse or reference to the NWC. The NWC was not appraised of his actions before the primary. The National Organising Secretary then issued this altered list to the Primary Election Committee for use in the conduct of the election.

     

    “This altered list became available to some of the aspirants in the early hours of the election day (September 3, 2016). When the election process was about to commence, Chief Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and three other aspirants protested and raised objections as to the delegates’ list to the election committee.

    “However, the committee members could not address it as it was not within their competence to do so. They went ahead with the conduct of the election.  After the declaration of the results of the election by the election committee, three aspirants petitioned the Election Appeal Committee, alleging discrepancies and the alteration of the delegates’ list provided to them by the election committee and other irregularities.

    “Consequent on the above, the NWC of the party received both the Election Committee and the Election Appeal Committee’s reports, which were tabled at the NWC meeting of Monday, September 19, 2016.”

    A decision by the NWC to submit the name of an interim substitute to INEC as place holder until a fresh primary was conducted suffered a setback after Oyegun, Buni and Izunaso “blindsided the other members to submit Akeredolu’s name in spite of a six to five votes in favour of presenting the substitute name”.

     

     

  • Ondo APC primary: Abraham urges NWC to declare him winner

    Ondo APC primary: Abraham urges NWC to declare him winner

    THE post-primary crisis in the Ondo State All progressives Congress (APC) deepened yesterday as a governorship aspirant, Dr. Olusegun Abraham, urged the National Working Committee (NWC) to declare him winner of the shadow poll.

    The Ikare-Akoko-born industrialist-turned politician said if the votes were recounted after voiding the ineligible votes, he would have scored the highest number of votes.

    Abraham came second in the disputed primary, scoring 535 votes. The winner of the controversial primary, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), scored 569.

    Abraham and two other aspirants, Prof. Ajayi Boroffice and Chief Olusola Oke, rejected the results, citing irregularities and distortion of the delegates’ list.

    In their petitions to the Primary Appeal Committee, they called for nullification of the results and a fresh exercise.

    But Abraham reviewed his position on the primary, saying he won the shadow poll.

    He said in a statement in Lagos that if the exercise was not marred by malpractices, he would have defeated other contestants with a wide margin.

    The aspirant said: “I am making a new appeal to declare me the winner of the September 3 primary. This should be the position, following a conscientious recalculation and recounting of the votes after voiding the ineligible votes. The NWC should consider this option at the expense of a fresh primary.”

    Abraham maintained that 157 fake delegates were injected into the delegates’ list in 12 of the 18 local governments.

    He said if the votes of 54 delegates loyal to him in the three local government of Akoko North West (13), Akoko North East (26) and Idanre (15), who were disenfranchised and substituted with fake delegates, were added to his score (635), after the fake and substituted ones have been removed from Akeredolu’s votes,  he will emerge with the highest votes.

    According to the analysis, Abraham will end up having 689 votes (635 + 54) against Akeredolu’s 589 votes (669 – 26 – 54).

    If the 157 fake votes were removed from Akeredolu’s votes and the 131 rightful votes re-alloted to Abraham, (with the exclusion of Owo’s 26), Akeredolu will end up with 512 votes (669 – 157) while Abraham will poll 766 votes (635 + 131).

    A party source said: “Since it has been established by the Electoral Appeal Committee that fake delegates were truly injected into the list at the  expense of real and eligible delegates, who couldn’t  vote on the day, I actually don’t see any reason why the NWC cannot truly consider removing the votes cast by fake delegates.”

  • Ondo APC primary not totally flawless, say observers

    Ondo APC primary not totally flawless, say observers

    HE Accredited Observers Group for the last Saturday governorship primary of Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday said the exercise was not perfect.

    At a news conference in Akure, the state capital, members of the six-man group, led by Prince Richards Adebayo, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be more involved in parties’ primaries to give them credibility.

    Adebayo said: “We are not condemning the primary election out-rightly. The voting pattern inside the dome was transparent. But some of the contestants’ agents alleged and protested that clusters of delegates were allowed to cast their votes in contravention of the regulations of the primary election.

    “During the voting exercise, the poll officials detected that the accreditation of delegates was hastily done without proper screening and many delegates were given unstamped tags.

    “Some of the delegates that came to the voting centre were not accredited by the three major accreditation centres because they were not duly screened in contravention of the electoral rules and regulations of the electoral committee.

    “The Chairman of the Electoral Committee and Jigawa State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar, informed the electoral session that he has organised few buses bring the remaining delegates that were delayed due to the topology of the area and to enable them cast their votes on time for the conclusion of the exercise.

    “We observed that few of the contestants’ agents condemned such arrangement of vehicles to convey delegates to voting centre because it was outside agreed arrangement.”

    The observers noted that such delegates were brought and allowed to cast their votes without proper screening before the committee rounded off the voting exercise.

    The group advised political parties to always allow delegates to exercise their civic rights in compliance with electoral laws.

    It called for necessary attention to any protest or allegation arising from the primary to prevent the political party’s disintegration.

    Besides, the group cautioned the political class to discourage electoral violence.

    The observers called for internal reconciliation of post-primary election among the party’s stakeholders to facilitate political cohesion.

    Other members of the group are Moses Ebanor, Sunny Elekwa, Ibrahim Bauchi, Ladan Zubaru and S.B. Babafunsho.

  • Ondo APC primary: Party chief unveils fake delegates

    Ondo APC primary: Party chief unveils fake delegates

    The immediate past chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo East Local Government Mr Akintunde Temitope has exposed the alleged fake names that were injected into the delegates list used for the party’s governorship primary election on Saturday.

    Temitope, in a petition to the Chairman of the Governorship Appeal Committee, alleged that a strange delegates list was introduced on the night of the election after everybody had gone to bed “only for us to wake up in the morning of the election to see a massively adulterated delegates list”.

    He said “names of 47 per cent of the legitimate delegates in Ondo East Local Government were either deleted or substituted with people who are unknown to the party as exco members. Some of the injected names are not even aware of the development and so did not come for the primary election.”

    Temitope attached the list containing the names of ‘fake’ delegates. Those identified include Olagunju Kayode designated as Local Secretary of the APC; Barrister Oke, Legal Adviser; Dickson Adeyale Financial Secretary; Folasuyan Simon, Organising Secretary; Fatai Fagun, Assistant Publicity Secretary; Azees Rafiu, Assistant Youth Leader; Alhaji Adeniyi Ex-Officio (2) and Bayo Olafusi Ex-Officio (3).

    In ward 1, the fake delegates identified were Akikuolie Omowale who claimed to be Ward Secretary; Arowolo Seto, Ward Treasurer; Idowu Adedoyin, Ward Financial Secretary; Nasiru Haruna, Ward Publicity Secretary and Akinmotimu Sina, Ward Youth Leader.

    For Ward 3, the impersonators wereOdunayo Dada, Ward Secretary; Akintade Grace, Ward Treasurer, Sunny Hammed, Ward Financial Secretary; Ebenezer Gbadebo, Ward Publicity Secretary and Sunny Rasaki, Ward Youth Leader.

    In Ward 4, the fake names identified  were Tijani Akeem Ward Chairman; Adebisi Murtala, Ward Vice Chairman; Akintunde Rotimi, Ward Secretary; Fagbenle Gbenga, Ward Financial Secretary; Olanrewaju Toyin, Ward Organising Secretary and Abidemi Odugbemi, Ward Woman Leader.

    In Ward 5, Wiwuloku Ayodeji,  Ward Secretary; Caroline Olajide, Ward Treasurer; Olawunmi Oluwaseyi, Ward Financial Secretary;  Fredrick Uwabueze, Ward Publicity Secretary; Gabriel Michael Ward Welfare Secretary and Giwa Fidelis, Ward Youth  Leader.

    For Ward 6, the fake delegates identified include Okoro Babatunde, Ward Chairman; Kingsley Ani, Ward Organising Secretary; Fibian Itodo, Ward Welfare Secretary and Mary Gabriel, Ward Woman Leader.

    Ward 7 list contained Gbenga Akindugbagbe as Ward Chairman; Yinusa Jamiu, Ward Vice Chairman; John Adeyoriju, Ward Secretary; Peter Daniel, Ward Organising Secretar and Idowu Enipola, Ward Welfare Secretary.

    Ward 8 contained the following fictitious names: Iyola Ayoade, Ward Secretary; Owolarafe Muruf, Ward Treasurer; Ajiboye Iyabo, Ward Financial Secretary; Azees Kolawole, Ward Organising Secretary and Lateef Saheed, Ward Youth Leader.

    In Ward 9 the list include Akinsulire Ademola, Ward Secretary; Agbe Abel, Ward Treasurer; Ibikunle Taye, Ward Organising Secretary and Ganiyu Yunisa. Ward Youth Leader.

    In Ward 10 the thre fake delegates identified were Lamidi Ajadi, Ward Financial Secretary; Kazeem Olagunju, Ward Publicity Secretary and Fasae Clement, Ward Youth Leader.