TheCable

The Ondo chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the All Progressive Congress (APC) primary election in the state as a “huge charade”.

On Saturday, the APC in Ondo conducted its primary election in the 203 wards in the state ahead of the November 16 gubernatorial poll.

However, some of the aspirant have expressed displeasure over the outcome of the election and called for its cancellation.

In a statement on Saturday, Kennedy Peretei, Ondo PDP publicity secretary, said it is evident that the APC cannot handle the affairs of the state if it is unable to organise a credible primary election for its members.

Peretei said Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi who supervised the election, has caused more havoc than his predecessor — Yahaya Bello — who chaired the same primary election 4 years ago.

“The over hyped All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election in Ondo state turned out to be a huge charade and a mockery of  democracy in every sense of the word,” Peretei said.

“Four years ago, former Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello, who has been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for N85 billion fraud, presided over a similar event in Akure, where none of the aspirants sighted the delegates list before the primary.

“As at the morning of the election, it was not clear whether it was going to be direct or indirect primary. That was the exercise that produced former governor Rotimi Akeredolu as candidate of the APC for 2020 governorship election.

“This time, governor Ahmed Ododo, Bello’s successor in office has wrecked more havoc than his boss.

“If the APC cannot conduct a free, fair, transparent and credible primary election for 171,922 of their members, they should perish the idea of presiding over the affairs of Ondo State beyond the eight years in which they have practically stagnated the State.”

He added that in the coming week, the PDP would conduct its primary election in an organised way, in the full glare of the media.

“It is a shame that the APC cannot bring only one of their sixteen aspirants to square up with other political parties in the general election through a process that is above board. That alone, is an affirmation that, the party should be consigned to dustbin of history, where it rightfully belongs,” he said.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ondo state chapter, will once again demonstrate its superior organizational sagacity and democratic credentials this week, through a governorship primary election that will be covered live by media houses and non-governmental organizations in the full glare of the world.”