A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ondo State, Emmanuel Fadola, has disclosed that the primaries of the party that took place in the state were characterised by authoritarian conduct by certain person who plotted to impose candidates on party members.
Fadola, who appealed to members of the party to accept the recent decision of the National Working Committee, NWC in the state’s primary election disputes, emphasised that the intervention became imperative following the manner in which the alleged irregularities took place.
According to the party stalwart, despite the issues raised over the conduct of the primaries, some aspirants were declared winners, a development he described as a desecration of the very ideals of democracy and fairness.
In a statement made available to newsmen, Fadola compared the 2024 governorship primary with that of the recent National Assembly primaries, which he said was conducted in a manner many party members considered deeply unsatisfactory.
He further stressed that the meeting held last week between Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and members of the Governor’s Advisory Council, GAC, ought to have taken place long before the affairs of the party degenerated.
Fadola said, “The lesson is clear: No individual has a monopoly of authority within our great party. In the recent National Assembly primary election, Hon. Festus Akingbaso clearly enjoyed the overwhelming support of the people of Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency.
“This was evident in the videos and photographs showing the large number of party members who queued behind his posters across the wards. His chances were further strengthened by my decision to step down in his favour.
“It is, therefore, difficult to comprehend how someone who had no agents at any of the voting centres could eventually be declared the winner of the nomination exercise.
“It must also be noted that this purported winner had, less than 24 hours before the primary, publicly stepped down for another aspirant who was later disqualified.
“Had there been sincere and extensive consultations with stakeholders, had the path of exclusion not been taken, and had every critical party leader been carried along, the intervention of the National Working Committee might not have been necessary.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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