The Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election in the state, describing it as a ‘mockery of democracy’ and an ‘anticlimax’, News About Nigeria reports.
In a statement issued by Kennedy Ikantu Peretei, the state publicity secretary of the PDP, the opposition party alleged that the election did not take place in many of the scheduled centers.
They further claimed there were instances of violence in Akure South and Okitipupa Local Government Areas, where political thugs reportedly disrupted the process.
The PDP statement read, “The overhyped APC Governorship Primary Election in Ondo State turned out to be a huge charade and a mockery of democracy in every sense of the word.
“The national headquarters of the party raked in a handsome sum of N830 million from unsuspecting aspirants who took photographs with their nomination forms in Abuja with their supporters. Little did they know that the exercise would be an anticlimax and their aspirations to occupy the number one seat in the State completely eclipsed and all the efforts headed for the dustbin.”
It further criticised the APC’s handling of the primary process, citing irregularities and lack of transparency.
The statement mentioned concerns raised by aspirants prior to the election and accused the APC of failing to conduct a credible primary election.
The statement concluded with a call for the APC to abandon its bid to govern Ondo State if it cannot ensure a fair and transparent electoral process.
“If the APC cannot conduct a free, fair, transparent, and credible primary election for 171,922 of their members, they should perish the idea of presiding over the affairs of Ondo State beyond the eight years in which they have practically stagnated the state.”
The APC, however, announced that the primary election would continue on Sunday, focusing on 13 wards in Okitipupa Local Government Area due to reported irregularities.
According to Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State, who chairs the primary election committee, the collation of results will begin immediately after the completion of the Okitipupa election.
