Some leaders of the APC in Akoko South-east/South-west Federal Constituency of Ondo State, have called on the party’s National Leadership to handle the issue of rerun primary in the area with a caution to avoid unnecessary crisis in the party.
Speaking on behalf of the leaders, Mr. Ogunmola Adedayo and Mrs. Akinola Helen, said in a press statement that,
“Consequently, we find it imperative to forewarn the party of the calamitous consequences ahead should the party turn a blind eye to the antics and schemes of mischief makers in the party.
Below is the full text of the statement;
We are the Concerned APC Leaders of Akoko South-East/South-West Federal Constituency of Ondo State. Our attention has been drawn to the All Progressives Congress letter with Reference no. APC/NHDO/INEC/19/022/133, dated 18th October, 2022 and addressed to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), captioned “COURT ORDERS FRESH PRIMARY ELECTION FOR AKOKO SOUTH-EAST/SOUTH-WEST FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY OF ONDO STATE”.
The aforesaid letter, signed by the Party National Chairman and the National Secretary, expressed the Party’s willingness to conduct a fresh primary election into the Akoko South-East/South-West Federal Constituency in compliance with the judgment of the Federal High Court.
The letter further spelt out the timetable for the conduct of the said fresh primary and added more by involving sale of forms and screening of aspirants/special delegate congress from 18th to 23rd October.
While we commend the Party for towing the path of honour by obeying the judgment of the Court to terminate efforts by some unscrupulous individuals seeking to bring this Party to disrepute in Ondo State, we are however miffed by the fact that the judgment our Party seeks to obey does not contain any pronouncement on the election of new Delegates, contrary to the false narrative presented in the Party’s letter to INEC.
We are aware of the pending Suit to determine the legal Delegates in Akoko South-East/South-West Federal Constituency before the Federal High Court sitting in Akure. Ordinarily, the Party ought to tarry and await the outcome of that Suit, rather than start a new voyage which may certainly amount to a flamboyant futility, as the issue is already subjudice.
It is interesting to note that despite the Party timetable, as contained in the letter to INEC, slating 18th to 20th October, 2022 for the purchase of forms, the Party has failed to sell the forms to anybody. Members of our Constituency visited the Party’s Ondo State Secretariat to purchase the forms, but found on arrival that it was under lock and key.
In this regard, we are baffled as to the Party’s motive(s), considering the fact that we reliably gathered that the State Chairman of the Party, Mr. Ade Adetimehin (a known supporter of one of the aspirants), visited the National Secretariat on 18th October, 2022 and might have cornered the forms with the intention of giving same to his cronies whom he intends to use in order to impose his preferred Aspirant.
Consequently, we find it imperative to forewarn the party of the calamitous consequences ahead should the party turn a blind eye to the antics and schemes of mischief makers in the party.
Signed:
Mr. Ogunmola Adedayo
Mrs. Akinola Helen
