Ondo guber: Uneasy calm in APC as Akeredolu makes INEC list
It is no longer news that Rotimi Akeredolu’s name has been finally submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) as its governorship candidate in Ondo State for the November 26 election.
Controversy has trailed his victory at the governorship primary election, following the recommendation of the three-member Election Appeal Committee chaired by Mrs. Helen Bendega, calling for cancellation of the poll that produced Akeredolu.
Bendega and her Secretary, Alh. Musa Umar, were said to have called for fresh election because of alleged irregularities in delegates list, a decision which the third committee member, Nikky Ejezie opposed.
But a twist was added to the political drama on Friday when the party which had explained the reason for its decision to submit Akeredolu’s name suddenly issued a statement to withdraw its position.
“The All Progressives Congress (APC) withdraws its earlier issued statement titled, ‘Re: 2016 Ondo State APC Governorship Primary Election Appeal Committee Report. Thank you for your cooperation,’” the statement reads.
In the withdrawn statement, the APC National Working Committee (NWC) explained the reasons why it rejected the recommendation of the Ondo State 2016 Governorship Primary Election Appeal Committee which called for the cancellation of the poll that produced Barrister Akeredolu as the party’s candidate.
The party, in the statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mai Mala Buni, dismissed the insinuation that its National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun overruled the NWC on Ondo Appeal Panel’s report.
“For the records, the party’s NWC decision to reject the 2016 Ondo State APC Governorship Primary Election Appeal Committee Report was taken on Tuesday, September 20, 2016 in an executive session after careful and exhaustive deliberation. The minutes and rejection was confirmed by the NWC on Thursday, September 22, 2016.
“The NWC, in its four-point resolution, rejected the Appeal Committee’s recommendation on the grounds that the report was fundamentally and fatally flawed. The NWC observed that the Appeal Committee contradicted itself when it admitted that the Primary Election Committee substantially complied with the rules guiding the process but still proceeded to recommend the nullification of the Primary election,” the release added.
The NWC, in its four-point resolution, faulted the failure of the Appeal Committee to invite the National Secretariat to either authenticate or reject the source of the disputed delegates list as the custodian.
The Appeal Committee, the release stated, did not invite the chairman or members of the Ondo State Governorship Primary Election Committee to clarify the allegation of manipulation on the accreditation process.
The party said the Appeal Committee rather relied on unsubstantiated evidence to recommend the nullification of the primary.
The NWC equally observed a serious contradiction in the Appeal Committee’s report in respect of the number of the accredited delegates.
“Whereas the Primary Election Committee’s report indicated that 2,774 delegates were accredited, the Appeal Committee’s report erroneously recorded it as those who voted in the election, thereby creating a false impression of over voting in the exercise. The actual total number of votes cast was 2,754, according to Primary Election Committee’s report,” the release further read.
The party, therefore, stressed that the issue of fresh primaries did not arise since the NWC had already rejected the Appeal Committee’s report in view of the stated flaws and upheld the election.
It further explained that the election was even time barred, saying by the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), all governorship primary and issues relating to it ended on September 19, 2016. Akeredolu, who defeated 23 other aspirants, polled 669 votes to beat the aspirant believed to have been endorsed by the APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Olusegun Abraham, who garnered 635 votes
The party added that voting on the issue did not arise in view of the NWC’s rejection of the Appeal Committee’s report.
The former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) had won the APC governorship ticket at a keenly contested Primary election.
Akeredolu, who defeated 23 other aspirants, polled 669 votes to beat the aspirant believed to have been endorsed by the APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Olusegun Abraham, who garnered 635 votes.
Chief Olusola Oke, a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the 2012 election, came third with 576 votes at the Primary election conducted by the Jigawa State Governor Badaru Abubakar-led five-man committee.
The incumbent senator, Ajayi Boroffice, representing Ondo North Senatorial District in the National Assembly polled 471 votes to come fourth at the election held in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
The senator representing Ondo Central, Tayo Alasoadura, polled 206 votes, while a serving member of the House of Representatives, Bode Ayorinde, garnered 67 votes.
Jumoke Ajasin Anifowose, the only female aspirant, got one vote.
The results also showed that Tunji Ariyomo got two votes, Tunji Abayomi, five votes; Adefemi Mayowa, 13 votes; Adegbomire Adebiyi, eight votes; Adekunle Adekunle, eight votes; Senator Ayo Akinyelure, three votes; Jamiu Afolabi, 44 votes; Olabitan Victor, 18 votes and Oyewumi Taiwo polled seven votes.
Governor Abubakar, who announced the result, declared Rotimi Akeredolu as winner and the APC candidate, having scored the highest votes.
Abubakar, who said one of the 24 aspirants, Paul Akintelure, withdrew before the election, congratulated other aspirants for accepting defeat.
He implored them to work with Akeredolu to win the November 26 governorship election.
A total of 2774 delegates participated in the primary election which recorded seven invalid votes
Akeredolu, in his acceptance speech, lauded the electoral committee, the delegates and the aspirants for what he called their positive contributions.
“Today, our great party has produced a candidate for the governorship election in Ondo State. We are looking forward to all aspirants working together as a family to win the next election in Ondo State,” said Akeredolu.
The controversial primary election was postponed twice after the party had faced revolt from the aspirants who had earlier shown lack of confidence in the Ondo State APC chairman, Mr Isaac Kekemeke, for allegedly supporting one of the contenders believed to have been endorsed by the APC national leader, Tinubu.
As a result, the APC national chairman, Chief Odigie-Oyegun held a meeting with the party’s chairman and secretary in Ondo, Mr Kekemeke and Mr Rotimi Rahman, including the 24 governorship aspirants to assure them that the party leaders at both national and state levels had no preferred candidate ahead of the governorship primary election.
The meeting was convened, following the crisis that rocked the state chapter of the party after the state chairman, Mr Kekemeke, was accused of backing one of the aspirants, Mr Abraham, believed to have received the backing of Tinubu.
Mr Tunji Abayomi, one of the APC governorship aspirants, consequently told Tinubu to steer clear of the contest in a letter. But Tinubu replied by telling him that he had the right to endorse any of the aspirants.
As political intrigues continue to trail the emergence of Akeredolu, only time will tell the fate of the APC in the governorship election.