Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Violence broke out at Ward I, Stella Maris College, Okitipupa, between rival supporters of two aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who are contesting to be the party’s candidate for the November 16, Ondo State governorship election.
Accredited party members, who had gathered in large numbers to participate in the candidate selection process, fled the scene when violence erupted among the rival factions.
The accreditation and election process had not begun when the violence erupted as voters scampered for safety.
One of the accredited voters, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that one of the agents of an aspirant came to the ward, snatched the validation and accreditation papers and ran away.
“One of the agents came here, snatched the validation and accreditation papers and fled the venue in his car.
“They chased him, but could not catch him. This caused the violence,” he said.
The security agents at the ward were unable to contain the violence and everyone fled the scene.
Aspirants fault process, call for cancellation
Meanwhile, some of the stakeholders in the election have alleged foul over how the election committee handled the electoral process.
The aggrieved party members alleged that the committee headed by Kogi State Governor, Mr Usman Ododo, was biased in its assignment.
Ododo, who arrived in the state on Saturday morning, addressed some of the aggrieved stakeholders at the distribution centre in Ijapo area of Akure, saying the electoral materials had been sent to the Ondo South and North Senatorial Districts, and that what was remaining was for Ondo Central (as of 10.30 am).
“There was no issue, I just came this (Saturday) morning and I was told that the election materials have been taken to Ondo South and Ondo North Senatorial Districts,” Ododo said.
But one of the aspirants, Gbenga Edema, disagreed with the governor, saying no election materials were taken to anywhere.
“I have been here since 6.30am and I didn’t see any material taken out of this place. The returning officers and electoral officers of my ward, Mahin Ward 2 in Ilaje Local Government are here and unable to collect any materials.
“What we are asking for is a credible election. So, we are asking the leadership of the party to look into this. If they’re not ready for this election, they should postpone it and the right thing should be done,” he said.
Similarly, the Programme Officer of the Wale Akinterinwa Campaign Organisation, Sola Arowosafe, demanded the cancellation of the whole exercise, alleging that the primary election committee was not fair with the process.
“For APC to bring Ododo to Ondo State is a low to our party and state, and position is that no primary election has taken place, no election materials have left here, and we are saying that the leadership of the party should do the needful by sending another neutral person, just like they did in Edo State to come and conduct another primary election where the good people of Ondo State will freely exercise their franchise to pick their candidate.
“If the leadership of the party failed to do the needful, then there is a way we will react and we are going to react accordingly. If any results are announced, we are telling the leadership of the party including President Bola Tinubu that no election took place in Ondo State, and no materials were distributed for us to pick our preferred candidate,” Arowosafe said.
Mr Rotimi Ogunleye, the media aide to one of the aspirants, Chief Olusola Oke (SAN), said the committee failed to follow the guidelines of the election.
“We got here around 6:30am, we don’t know when and where the election materials were sent out from this place to Ondo South and North Senatorial Districts. The truth of the matter is that there were no materials sent out.
“Why can’t they follow the due process? The national leadership of the party should call Ododo to order, they should follow the guidelines they released,” Ogunleye demanded.
