John Alechenu, Abuja

The three-member All Progressives Congress Ondo State Governorship Primary Appeals Committee has recommended for the cancellation of the election.

It also recommended that a fresh election be conducted to chose the party’s standard bearer in the forthcoming governorship election.

A copy of the report sighted by our correspondent on Monday, observed among other things that, “It is a matter of grave concern that the accreditation process appeared to have been manipulated.

“Thus, in consideration of the above observed irregularities and for the sake of fair play, it is hereby recommended that the election result should be cancelled while a rerun election should be ordered immediately in order to beat the INEC deadline.”

It was however learnt that the committee submitted its findings and left the decision on the way forward for the party leadership to make.

A meeting of the party’s National Working Committee on the report was, however, deadlocked as party leaders failed to reach a consensus.

The meeting, which had most members of the NWC in attendance, was held at the party’s National Secretariat on Monday.

It was learnt that the three-hour meeting, was convened to deliberate on the Appeal Panel’s report which was secretly submitted to the NWC by the panel’s Chairman, Helen Bendega, late on Friday.

It was gathered that the party leadership was divided over whether or not to cancel the primary as recommended by the panel.

The Ondo APC Governorship primary conducted on September 3, was reportedly marred by controversy as several contestants and party leaders from the state alleged massive electoral fraud.

Chief Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, was declared winner after the contest which was supervised by the Governor Abubakar Badaru-led Primary Election Committee.

Akeredolu defeated Segun Abraham, the preferred candidate of the national leader of APC, Bola Tinubu.

Abraham, Olusola Oke and Senator Ajayi Borofice had petitioned the APC Appeal Panel Committee, alleging irregularities on the delegates’ list for the primaries.

Those who attended Monday’s meeting included the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, two Deputy National Chairmen (South), Segun Oni and his counterpart from the North, Lawali Shuiabu.

Bari22:
Although i'am an apc member but not everything must be in favour of tinubu. Cancellation of this primary election will result in dividing the apc supporters, anti party activities there by making sure apc has failed woefully in that state.

sanky346:
Tinubu holds the ace in all of these.

*Modified*

If truly the delegates list was altered/doctored, then the whole thing should be cancelled.... I believed the other aspirants were just expressing some sour grapes.. seems there is truly more to the story....

Also, all I can say to the allegation of Mo hating on Tinubu is

Really? Hate Tinubu?

Bari22:
Although i'am an apc member but not everything must be in favour of tinubu. Cancellation of this primary election will result in dividing the apc supporters, anti party activities there by making sure apc has failed woefully in that state.

Bari22:
Although i'am an apc member but not everything must be in favour of tinubu. Cancellation of this primary election will result in dividing the apc supporters, anti party activities there by making sure apc has failed woefully in that state.

bejeiodus:
The PDP in Ondo should start preparing for a victory party. The APC has lost the election even before the first ballot is cast. No general goes to war with a divided troops. It is a wonder that people like Tinubu are called progressives. What is progressive about a man who arrogates to himself the sole right to choose for the people? This could mark the beginning of the end for Tinubu. Imposition of candidates destroyed the AD. It is painful that Tinubu is a poor student of history.

bensonlee770:
Unless people don't come out to vote, PDP headed by Mimiko can't win the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Ondo state.

bejeiodus:
I am not from Ondo state and I don't understand their local politics. But take this from me, if the APC annuls Akeredolu's election, it is going to cause a great schism in the party which will have an adverse effect on their performance in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state. No matter how you try to spin it, PDP stands to profit a lot from any squabble this subterfuge act may bring.

bejeiodus:
The PDP in Ondo state should start preparing for a victory party. The APC has lost the election even before the first ballot is cast. No general goes to war with a divided troops. It is a wonder that people like Tinubu are called progressives. What is progressive about a man who arrogates to himself the sole right to choose for the people? This could mark the beginning of the end for Tinubu. Imposition of candidates destroyed the AD. It is regrettable that Tinubu is a poor student of history.

wengerjay:
Would akeredolu have accepted the result if he didn't win and discovered that the delegates list was doctored?

modath:



I know you are always balanced & we do have robust and enriching discuss despite running on parallel lines..... bros for free... The highlighted ain't gonna happen....let's leave it at that....

Take care.

bejeiodus:
This is a hypothetical question which I can't answer.


"This is a candidate who was interviewed in
almost all the dailies and said he would not
accept anything short of free and fair election.
He even said if Abraham should win through a
free and fair primary election, himself and other
aspirants will not accept his candidacy.."

Politicians are known to threaten fire and brimstone in the buildup to an election. He could have said all that because he was sure of victory. I watched Dr Tunji Abayomi, one of the candidates in the election and the man who chided Tinubu for his overt support for Segun Abraham on Channels TV. He made it abundantly clear that the election was free and fair. He also said other candidates employed the same dishonest tactics they accused Akeredolu of using to emerge victorious. Therefore, the party in its best interest should let sleeping dogs lie.

pafygodo:
Once it's established that the delegates list was doctored, for transparency sake, the primary election ought to be canceled.
Why do people always mention Tinubu's name? His purported endorsed candidate initially congratulated Akeredolu before he found out the process was fraudulent.
The question is 'Who doctored the delegates list?'.

ificatchmodeh:
Jagaban....jagaring Apc..
Abeg make them do scarra..the suffering wey dem inflict on nigerians the backfire...
Apc will be the first party in government and opposition party at same time.
Very corrupt party.

modath:



Nope, he doesn't, it's the people of Ondo... Tinubu and Abraham lost this fair and square, they probably thought they had the delegates all figured out but the numbers eventually didn't add up..


They should learn to gracefully accept defeat and move on.... Insisting on winning every battle isn't the way to go..