Ondo APC primary: Oke alleges compromise, threatens legal action

Chief Olusola Oke, a governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Ondo, says he will use “legal and acceptable means” to seek redress over the conduct of Saturday’s primary.

The spokesperson for the Olusola Oke Campaign Organisation, Ojo Oyewamide, stated this in a statement on Sunday.

The statement accused the Chairman of the Governorship Primary Election Committee in Ondo State and Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo of imposing on the people of Ondo state a fraudulent electoral process.

“We have read on social media a notice of rescheduled primary election slated for today, Sunday 21st of April, 2024, in Okitipupa local government area. The notice was said to have been issued by Governor Ododo, the chairman of the Election Committee.

“As we prepare to make the whole world see the monumental fraud perpetrated by Governor Ododo and his men, this irritating notice has further confirmed that Governor Ododo has a premeditated plan to impose on the people of Ondo state a fraudulent electoral process that can only produce fraudulent leadership.

“First and foremost, there was no election anywhere in Ondo state, so there can never be a rescheduled election.

“Secondly, the purported rescheduled election is fixed for 12 midday today, Sunday 21st, this is gross insensitivity and disrespect to the religion of our party members who were robbed of their democratic rights by Governor Ododo and his hired enablers. By 12 midday, many of these loyal and dedicated party members will still be in their respective worship centres.

“The need for the purported rescheduled primary election arises as a result of their unsuccessful attempt to smuggle in the already written election results of the primary having been resisted by some men of conscience who refused be initiated into the Kogi democratic system of violence and intimidation to in election.

“We understand the limitation of Governor Ododo. He is a product of election process that is driven by violence and intimidation. Seeing an election that is characterised by violence, gross intimidation, and open manipulation means nothing to him. The presence of Governor Ododo was the impetus that further energised the hired thugs that militarised the election.

“Therefore, it is understandable that Governor Ododo and his team have no respect for the guidelines of the primary election that should be a guide for their actions, summarily, we do not expect a man whose only democratic credential, as an emerging leader, is subversion of democratic process. He should be told that this is Ondo state.

“We are ready to use any legal and acceptable means to redress these shenanigans. We are Ondo state people, we are no conquered people,” the statement read.