The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has refuted reports suggesting that the governorship primary election did not take place in the state, dismissing the claims as shocking and lacking credibility.
Responding to media reports quoting the Independent National Electoral Commission’s assertion that there was no election in some wards during the primary, the party issued a statement through its state Publicity Secretary, Alex Kalejaiye, on Monday. The party maintained that the election was conducted in all Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state except in Ifedore and Ilaje LGAs.
Kalejaiye clarified, “For the records, elections took place in all the 18 Local Government Areas in the state. There were agitations in the Ifedore and Ilaje Local Government areas. While the results in the entire Ifedore Local Government were cancelled, that of Ilaje affected about four wards, which were also cancelled.”
He emphasized that the cancellations were made to underscore the integrity of the entire process and uphold fairness. The party asserted that the voting strength of its members in the affected areas was not substantial enough to undermine the credibility of the process or affect the margin by which the candidate emerged.
Expressing doubts about the authenticity of the report attributed to an INEC agent, the state chapter of the party cautioned against unnecessary desperation on the part of some members intent on discrediting the process.
Kalejaiye urged the party’s supporters to disregard the unfounded report and focus on the larger task ahead, which is to win the governorship election and retain control of the Sunshine State for the APC.