Olugbenga Araoyinbo, a disgruntled aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, has lodged a formal complaint to the party’s national leadership, contesting the result of the primary election for the Akoko North-East/North-West Federal Constituency. The primary was held in preparation for the upcoming by-election on February 3.
Araoyinbo alleges that the primary election was marred by irregularities, and as a result, he refuses to accept the outcome. His protest stems from the failure to adhere to the party’s guidelines for conducting the primary. The declared winner, Ifeoluwa Ehindero, emerged victorious at Victory College in Ikare-Akoko, the headquarters of Akoko North-East Local Government Area.
Expressing his dissatisfaction, Araoyinbo asserts that the primary did not conform to the party’s stipulated guidelines. He insists that the primary’s results should be nullified, emphasizing that no congress was convened in the two local governments comprising the constituency prior to the primary. Furthermore, he highlights that the delegates’ lists were not accessible to the aspirants before the conduct of the primary.
Araoyinbo elaborates on his grievances, revealing that legitimate party members, who had fulfilled all necessary requirements, were excluded from participating in the delegate congress. He contends that the delegate list was compromised, with the inclusion of unidentified individuals not presented to the aspirants prior to the primary election.
In light of these allegations, Araoyinbo’s petition signifies a significant challenge to the transparency and integrity of the APC’s primary process. His action underscores the need for a thorough investigation into the irregularities, which could potentially impact the credibility of the party’s candidate selection in the upcoming by-election.
The rejection of the primary outcome serves as a poignant reminder of the inherent complexities and controversies that often surround the electoral processes, resonating beyond Ondo State to prompt broader discussions about the principles of fairness, accountability, and democratic governance within political parties across the African continent.
