APC Reps Primaries: Confusion Deepens in Ondo as Panel Splits, Secretary Heads to Abuja

APC Reps Primaries: Confusion Deepens in Ondo as Panel Splits, Secretary Heads to Abuja

Tension has continued to mount within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State following the failure of the party’s National Assembly Primary Election Committee to officially announce the results of Saturday’s House of Representatives primaries.

The seven-member committee, headed by Hon. Iboroma Harry Dabibi, was said to have been thrown into disarray over disagreements among members, amid allegations of pressure to declare certain aspirants as winners, including some reportedly disqualified from the race.

Party sources disclosed that the crisis escalated after the committee’s secretary, Adamu Mohammed Shamaki, alongside two other members, reportedly left Akure for Abuja, leaving the chairman and remaining members unable to proceed with the collation and announcement of results.

According to sources within the party, the secretary objected to alleged moves to announce a list of consensus candidates said to have been favoured by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

He reportedly insisted that the committee lacked the authority to declare consensus candidates and should instead compile its findings and submit a report to the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

Sources further alleged that an offer of N500 million was made to members of the committee but was rejected by the secretary, who allegedly left Akure quietly. His current whereabouts could not be confirmed as of press time, although party insiders claimed he was already in Abuja to brief the APC national leadership.

The development has intensified controversy surrounding the primaries, especially following the earlier disqualification of seven aspirants from the contest.

The disqualified aspirants include: Hon. Adefisoye Tajudeen (Idanre/Ifedore), Olusegun Ategbole (Akoko South West/Akoko South East), Seun Ajongbolo (Akoko South East/Akoko South West), Ayodele Arowole (Owo/Ose), Murufu Ibrahim (Akoko North East/Akoko North West), Oseni Oyeniyi (Akoko North East/Akoko North West) and Olaleye Adedipe (Akoko North East/Akoko North West).

Despite their disqualification, some of the affected aspirants were reportedly present and participated in the primary process.

Party insiders alleged that Hon. Adefisoye, Ategbole and Arowole were among aspirants allegedly backed as consensus candidates by the governor.

Sources within the APC further claimed that efforts were made to announce some aspirants, including Hon. Abiola Makinde (Ondo East/Ondo West), Hon. Wunmi Edet (Akure North/Akure South) and Muyiwa Daramola (Okitipupa/Irele), as winners before the process stalled.

“They could not proceed because the committee secretary and two members had already left. Without the secretary’s signature, the results cannot be validly forwarded to the National Working Committee,” a party source said.

Questions have also been raised over the presence of APC National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel, at the collation centre despite not being a member of the primary election committee.

A party member queried the role played by the youth leader during the exercise, alleging that his presence further fuelled concerns about possible interference in the process.

The presence of Dayo Israel at the collation centre raised serious concerns among party members. Many are asking whose interest he represented and why he was involved in the exercise,” the source said.

The crisis has now heightened uncertainty ahead of the party’s senatorial primaries scheduled to hold on Sunday, with concerns that the absence of some committee members could affect the conduct of the exercise.