REVEALED: Why APC panel nullified Ondo guber primary

The primary appeal committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state recommended the annulment of the exercise that produced Rotimi Akeredolu as the party’s candidate for the November 26 governorship election because of the disputed delegates’ list.

With a total of 699 votes, Mohammed Abubakar, Jigawa state governor and chairman of the APC election committee, declared Akeredolu winner of the primary, which held on September 3.

All the aspirants who partook in the exercise subsequently congratulated Akeredolu and expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the exercise.

Two days after the election, Olusegun Abraham, Akeredoul’s main rival, who came second in the election, issued a statement where he pledged support for the party’s candidate.

But on September 7, Abraham made a U-turn, calling for the cancellation of the exercise over alleged irregularities.

Olusola Oke and Ajayi Boroffice, who emerged third and fourth respectively, also demanded the annulment of Akeredolu’s victory.

In all, the committee chaired by Hellen Bendega received six petitions and after examining them, upheld the prayers of those seeking the nullification of the exercise.

The committee also recommended that a rerun primary should be held immediately to beat the deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Committee (INEC).

The panel also suggested that the party’s national leadership should revert to the earlier delegates’ list, which was distributed to aspirants in Abuja.

It said a final and properly-harmonised list acceptable to all contenders should be compiled, adding that the delegates’ list should be released — not on the eve of the primary, but much earlier to give sufficient time for the take-off of elections and avoid being used in favour of any aspirant.