Confusion in Ondo APC over primaries for 2019 elections

The decision of the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC)  to adopt direct primary to elect its candidates for the 2019 elections is causing confusion in the Ondo state chapter of party.

At a press conference on Monday, the Unity Group, a faction of the APC in the state, alleged that Rotimi Akeredolu, the governor, was at the forefront of campaign against direct primary.

Idowu Otetubi, factional chairman of the party in the state, said the governor and his group were afraid of defeat.

Otetubi said the group would do everything to resist imposition of unpopular candidates for the 2019 elections.

“We are not unaware of the unpatriotic stand of some of our governors especially the Governor of Ondo State who has been in the forefront of kicking against the most democratic system of nomination candidate,” he said.

“We are not surprised at the stand of Governor Akeredolu and his handpicked executives. We know that they are afraid and have phobia for contest.

“All they want is to be handpicked as candidates of the party which shall be counter-productive. We wish to warn ahead of time that our group which is over 75 percent of APC in Ondo State will do everything to resist imposition of unpopular candidates on us for the 2019 election.”

Meanwhile, another faction led by Ade Aladetimehin adopted indirect primary for all elective posts in the 2019 elections.

The party reached the resolution after a stakeholders meeting in Akure, the state capital.

Akeredolu, Agboola Ajayi, his deputy,  Tayo Alasoadura, Yele Omogunwa and Mayowa Akinfolarin, federal lawmakers from the state, attended the meeting.

Adetimehin and Alasoadura who briefed reporters at the end of the meeting said the state executive committee members unanimously endorsed indirect primaries.

Ajayi Boroffice, senator representing Ondo north senatorial district, who is in support of direct primaries, did not attend the meeting.

Speaking to TheCable, the senator maintained that direct primary option would be adopted for all elections in the state either the governor supported it or not.

Boroffice said he was not aware of any gathering and the position of the national body of the party supersedes any resolution reached by a “group of people”.

The two-term senator spoke through, Kayode Fakuyi, his media aide.