All Guberatorial Asipirants in All Progressives Party (APC) in Ondo state prefer a direct primary mode, except Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, the incumbent Governor who is seeking to recontest for a second term in office. And this has really caused rift and proliferated more intrigues in the party.
Other Asipirants hold the opinion that the direct primary mode will proffer the opportunity for all card-carrying members of the party to vote for their choice.candidate in the primary.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electroral Commission (INEC) has displayed on its website the APC's choice of primary mode.
Other Aspirants apart from the incumbent Governor have made strident calls for a reversal. Many of them condemned the party's adoption of indirect primary mode.
In a meeting held with some of them on Friday by APC Primary Election Committee, the asipirants that attented expressed their displeasure.
The Primary Election Committee chairman, Governor Yahaya Bello (of Kogi state) stated to them on Friday that the asiprants cannot dictate for the party.
Yahaya Bello (Chairman, APC Ondo PEC)
The meeting which was supposed to be a recocilatory meeting ahead of the July 20 primary election only had six out of the 12 aspirants in attendance.
Those that were in attendance were; Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, Bukola Adetula, Soni Iji, Ifeoluwa Oyedele, Jimi Odimayo and Jumoke Anifowose.
Olusola Oke who is obviously the main challenger to the Governor Akeredolu was not in attendance.
Olusola Oke
In reaction to the APC recocilatory meeting on Friday, Oke said if need be, he may challenge the APC indirect primary mode in court.
He said the committee is only playing to the gallery.
He added that he will participate in the primary and that he won't boycott any election, so as to avail him the opportunity under the electroral law to challenge the process.
After the meeting that at least had a quorum, the chairman of the meeting, Yahaya Bello disclosed to the newsmen that the party may still have a wholistic look at the scenerio at the national headquarters and recommend whatever the members prefer.
Bello added that the ultimate goal of the party is to ensure victory in the forthcoming election, as well as ensuring peace among all party members.
Akeredolu, while responding to the newsmen, he said he will definitely reconcile all members and ensure that peace reign in the party in the state again.
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