Forty-eight hours after the controversial House of Representatives primaries of All Progressives Congress in Ondo State, celebrations by declared winners have continued across parts of the state, but the atmosphere remains charged with uncertainty as aggrieved aspirants await possible intervention from the party’s national secretariat.
The primaries, which produced candidates in the eight federal constituencies, have been trailed by protests, allegations of manipulation and internal party division, with many aspirants insisting that the final outcome may still be reversed.
It would be recalled that late Sunday, one of the disqualified aspirants believed to be a preferred candidate of the state leadership allegedly led thugs to disrupt the announcement of results in one of the constituencies, forcing party officials and delegates to briefly suspend proceedings before calm was restored.
Political observers said the emergence of many winners from the camp of Lucky Aiyedatiwa has been cited as a major factor behind the crisis that trailed the exercise, with accusations that the process favoured loyalists of the incumbent governor.
The development has also widened the rift between the governor and six incumbent lawmakers who failed to secure return tickets. Most of the affected lawmakers were said to have been at loggerheads with the governor ahead of the primaries, a division that played out during both screening and voting.
Several losing aspirants have rejected the announced results, expressing confidence that the APC national leadership will review the process and alter some of the declared outcomes. Many have urged their supporters to remain calm pending the party’s final decision.
Despite jubilation in the camps of the declared winners, party sources said many remain uneasy over possible intervention from the national leadership, especially in constituencies where aspirants who scored the highest votes were later disqualified after the exercise.
Sources also added that due to irregularities surrounding the Ondo State crisis and few other states, the national secretariat has directed that announcements of results be stopped at the state level.
Among the declared winners are Ifeoluwa Ehindero, Abiola Peter Makinde, Damamola Olumuyiwa, Omowunmi Olatunji Ohwovoriole, Adefarati Gboyega, Kayode Ijalana, Rasaq Obe and Matthew Oyerimade.
The controversy deepened in constituencies such as Akoko South East/South West, Owo/Ose and Idanre/Ifedore, where aspirants who reportedly polled the highest votes were later declared invalid for failing screening clearance, leading to second-placed candidates being announced as winners.
As the party moves into its senatorial primaries, many members are urging the leadership to ensure a free, transparent and credible process to correct the controversies that trailed the House of Representatives exercise and restore confidence among party faithful.
