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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo have raised an alarm over an alleged plot by some persons to cause chaos within the party ahead of the April 20 governorship primary.
The party leaders led by Adewale Ibraheem, who accused supporters of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of being behind the plot, disclosed that the aim was to prevent the party’s governorship primary from taking place.
Addressing newsmen in Akure, the state capital, over the weekend, the leaders alleged that plans had been perfected to recruit thugs through the “Red-Beret” supporters in each of the local government areas of the state to achieve the purpose.
“It has come to our notice through a credible source in the camp of Aiyedatiwa supporters that plans have been perfected by Aiyedatiwa’s political foot soldiers to scuttle the APC primary, baring any last-minute counter moves.
“A meeting was held in Akure, and it was coordinated by a senior cabinet member in Akure. At the meeting, it was approved that anywhere in all 18 local government areas of the state where the incumbent is unpopular and may lose the election, the election in such a place must be disrupted, and the election must never be allowed to stand.
“Funds shall be provided to recruit 50 thugs in each of the 18 local governments to cause trouble on April 20, 2024, and discredit the APC primary. It is evident that Aiyedatiwa is losing out, and he wants to drag everybody down, including the APC in Ondo State.
“His support base is weak, and the strategists for his aspiration are of the opinion that the power of incumbency should be used to waste the fortunes of the APC in Ondo State,” Ibraheem stated.
Reacting to the allegation, the Director of Information, Lucky Ayedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot Soldiers (LACO-FS), Kayode Fasua, described the report as false.
In a statement made available to newsmen, Fasua said the meeting referred to by the APC leaders was to appraise the performance of the campaign efforts within the local government by Aiyedatiwa’s supporters, adding that there is nothing more to it.
“Yes, Aiyedatiwa is contesting the party’s next governorship ticket, but the enormous task before him does not give room for the conjecture of raising thugs or anything of the stuff. He is a busy man, one who closes work at 1:00a.m. and resumes at 8:00a.m.
“The meeting under reference was an Akure meeting held by APC members in the locality to appraise the performance of the campaign efforts within the local government thus far. Nothing more.
“Therefore, desperadoes within the APC should readdress themselves and give vent to party rules and regulations by stopping mudslinging Mr. Governor in the belief that he is a simple man and can’t do anything,” Fasua said.
No fewer than 16 aspirants, including Aiyedatiwa, Wale Akinterinwa, Jimoh Ibrahim, Gbenga Edema,Olusola Oke, Prof. Dayo Faduyile, Isaac Kekemeke, Ife Oyedele, Jimoh Ibrahim among others have obtained the party’s expression of interest and nomination forms for the governorship primary.
APC assures of fairness, transparency at governorship primary election
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has promised to conduct a free, fair and transparent primary election to choose its candidate for the 11 November governorship election in Ondo State.
The party’s Deputy National Organising Secretary, Nze Duru, gave the assurance on Saturday in Abuja as the party drew the curtain on the submission of expression of interest and nomination forms by aspirants.
“We assure aspirants that the party is interested and desirous of conducting a free, fair and transparent primary election in Ondo State,’’ he said
The primary election is scheduled to hold on April 20 to select a standard bearer from among 16 party members that have shown interest in the race.
“Saturday, April 6 marks the formal closure of the first step of electing the person that will fly the party’s flag at the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State.
“The next exercise will be the screening of aspirants on April 11 and April 12 and after that, the primary election will hold,’’ Duru said.
He added that aspirants would be grouped for the screening to ensure a smooth process.
Duru enjoined all aspirants to extend a hand of felicitation to whoever emerges as the party’s candidate as was done in Edo State.
He explained that Edo had become a reference point in the party’s free process of choosing its candidates as the people who are not comfortable with the outcome came together to broker peace among party members.
“They came to the negotiation table; had a handshake and now we have a very formidable team and we believe that APC will win in Edo.
“If we trust that APC will win in Edo, we have confidence that it will win in Ondo State,’’ Duru said.