The governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State have been labeled a charade by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State. The PDP criticized the ruling party for its inability to conduct a smooth primary among the 16 aspirants, stating that it reflects poorly on the APC’s ability to govern the country.
In a statement released by Kennedy Peretei, the PDP’s publicity secretary in the state, the party emphasized that the primaries were a mockery of democracy. The PDP highlighted the irregularities that emerged 48 hours before the primary, with five aspirants petitioning the APC National Headquarters about discrepancies in the accredited members for the primary.
The statement also referenced a similar event four years ago, where former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, who is currently wanted by the EFCC for fraud, oversaw a primary in Akure without providing the aspirants with the delegate list beforehand. This lack of transparency continued into the recent primary, with uncertainty surrounding whether it would be a direct or indirect process.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, Bello’s successor, was criticized for causing even more chaos during the primary. Journalists attempting to monitor the election were surprised to find that many of the election centers lacked materials and officials to conduct the exercise.
The PDP’s condemnation of the APC’s handling of the primaries underscores the importance of fair and transparent electoral processes in a democracy. The events in Ondo State serve as a reminder of the need for accountability and integrity in political decision-making.
