The All Progressives Congress (APC) Appeals Committee on the governorship primary election held on Saturday in Ondo State has received two additional petitions, bringing to five the number.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Secretary of the Committee, Mr Obiocha Isreal, made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Akure.
It said that the fresh petitions were received from Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim and Mrs Folakemi Omogoroye.
Messrs Wale Akinteriwa, Gbenga Edema and Jimi Odimayo, who contested in the Saturday primary election had earlier on Monday filed petitions over the conduct and result of the election.
Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who became governor following the death of the late Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu, was declared winner of the election by the Gov. Usman Ododo led APC primary election committee.
Other many of aspirants including the petitioners, however, decried the conduct of the election alleging that no elections were held in many wards in the 18 local government area of the state.
Isreal said that the two aspirants alleged that the just concluded primary was marred with irregularities and fell short of appreciable standard.
He said “Ibrahim and Omogoroye described the process as an anticlimax, a mockery of democracy and complete negation of every known democratic norm.”
Isreal said further that Omogoroye asked for the cancellation of the election and urged the committee chairman to order for another election.
Ibrahim, the appeals committer chairman said, asked for cancellation of the election on four grounds, which included: non-compliance with the rules, non provision of electoral materials, non accreditation of agents and gross misconduct.
“I paid the sum of N100 million for the validation of over 40 thousand party members and those members were not allowed to be revalidated across Ondo State.
“This was because no voters register was made available in the wards to which members could be validated
“On ground two -on provision of electoral materials -.No electoral materials were provided for the conduct of the election.
“The local government electoral officials were kept in the hotel during the period of the election for several hours and only result sheets were given to them.
“My agents were not accredited in all the wards, and they did not sign election result sheet since none was made available to them,” Ibrahim was quoted to have said in his petition.
Ondo APC primary: We are all winners, Aiyedatiwa to 15 other aspirants
Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State, who also doubles as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress(APC), on Tuesday said that all the aspirants under the party are all winners.
Aiyedatiwa stated this during a thank-you visit tour to the state party secretariat in Akure.
The governor said that the number and quality of aspirants that contested under the ruling party showed the quality of people in the party.
He said he was at the party secretariat to also appreciate the party leadership for taking good care of those who came to conduct the election from Abuja thereby creating an enabling environment for the primary to be held.
“The conduct of the primary election has come and gone, all 16 aspirants are all winners. We are all winners for our party, but we were able to have the flag bearer and I have been chosen to have been unanimously elected as candidate of our party.
“We are here to thank the party because, without the party, we can’t run for office. I also thank all the state working committee for their support.
“We must ensure that all the other 15 aspirants must come together to ensure we win the Nov. 16 election, so we can put our house in order before going to the main contest,” he said.
Earlier, the Party Chairman in the State, Mr Ade Adetimehin, said he saw Saturday’s primary election as a family affair and ensured that the party continued to remain in power more than 2025.
Adetimehin said the work that remained now was that of the entire APC members and leadership.
“The load is now for the entire APC members and I can assure you this state is always a progressive state, come November 16 by the grace of God, we will win the election,” he said.