….Seeks Cancellation of Adegbonmire’s Victory, fresh primaries
One of the Aspirants for Ondo Central Senatorial district in the just conducted Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC) primary, Otunba Adeniran Oyebade has explained how the use of fake and unaccredited delegates made him to score zero vote, even as the process was heavily compromised with financial inducement.
Oyebade has therefore sought the cancellation of the results of the primary election held in the Ondo Central Senatorial at the Dome, in Akure, and the leadership of the APC should order fresh primaries in the zone.
This is coming amid outcries by many aspirants who partook in the elections across the state calling for same saying it was not free and fair and was marred by fake delegate lists.
Addressing a press briefing in Akure, the Ondo City-born said his demand include cancellation of the results of the primary election and immediate arrest of anyone found guilty of election offences.
A former Minister of State for Niger Delta, Senator Tayo Alasoadura who polled 88 votes lost to Adeniyi Adegbonmire, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) who scored 144 at the primary which was held on Saturday, while four other aspirants including Wunmi Olatunji got two votes, Tola Awosika received 44 votes, Adeniran Oyebade scored zero votes and Ilesola Akinpelumi had 45 votes.
However speaking on the outcome of the election, the USA-based Otunba Oyebade who rejected the result, said he is at moment exploring administrative resolution of the matter before heading for court as a last action.
He noted that if the leadership does not address the matter as expected, he would be left with no other choice than to put together a legal team to file at the court.
Oyebade said, “I wish to express my grievances. I have spoken with other aspirants who also expressed the same level of disappointment. What they did during the election was contrary to the electoral acts and the constitution of the party”.
“They just invited us to come and watch them perfect their plans. I have no issues with the winner at the primaries but I disagree with the process starting from the selection of 5 delegates. They went as far as inducing delegates, that is insane. You are not supposed to be paid to vote. Voting is a civic responsibility”.
“I have to put the record straight because if we don’t speak up, the perpetrators will continue to do more. They claimed to be acting at the directives of Mr. Governor”, the Aspirant added that lots of irregularities marred the process as against the free and fair contest promised by the Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
Otunba Oyebade who also said the protest was not about his winning or losing the election but about correcting the wrongs, urge the national leadership of the party to step into the matter and fix the party so that the bad eggs do not ruin the party ahead of the general election.
