NewsPoliticsWhy 11 Ondo APC Aspirants Wrote a Letter Protesting Against Indirect Primary Election

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As the July 20 date to determine the candidate that would represent the All Progressives Congress in the forthcoming governorship election approaches, eleven aspirants have protested the indirect primary election mode the party may adopt.

The aspirants in a protest letter presented to the party’s Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee (CEONCPC) in Abuja, by one of the aspirants, Chief Olusola Oke, on behalf of other aspirants, excluding Rotimi Akeredolu – the current Governor who is seeking re-election — said that direct mode of primary election was preferred by party members, the Nation reported.

“Having variously traversed the length and breadth of Ondo State, interfacing with party members as aspirants, we can confidently inform you that overwhelming majority of our party members prefer direct primary for the nomination of the party’s candidate for the 2020 Governorship Election,” the letter partly read.

The aspirants said it was ‘hazardous’ to adopt the direct primary election considering the ‘prevailing mood and circumstances’.

Citing a law suit at the Federal High court in Akure which challenges the validity of the ward, local government and state executives who were elected at the congresses held in 2019, the aspirants alleged that persons “currently parading themselves as party executives at all levels in the State, were single-handedly selected outside the congresses contrary to the provisions APC Constitution by his Excellency, the Governor of Ondo State and his allies.”

“It is the law and it stands to good logic that no party to the above suit should take any step that will undermine the authority of the court during the pendency of the suit. The party acting in disregard of a pending case stands the risk of the exercise carried out in contempt being declared a nullity notwithstanding the merit of the case.”

The aspirants noted that there was time constraint to adhere to the guidelines spelt out in the party’s constitution as regards the emergence of a governorship candidate, including election of delegates by members of the party in various wards.

“Clearly, the party has times constraint to comply with the above provision.

“For the above reasons and the overriding need to maximize fairness and minimize bitterness that, as stakeholders, we most humbly insist that Direct Primary be adopted as was peacefully utilized in Edo, Osun, Lagos, Oyo and Ogun States.

“It will provide a level playing ground for all aspirants and assist in mobilizing party members to own the candidature of whoever emerges from the process,” the protesting aspirants affirmed.

 

 

Adeola Oladipupo (Correspondent)
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