Ondo Guber Hopeful Confronts Ododo Over APC Primary

The delivery of election materials for the party’s primary sparked a furious dispute between Gbenga Edema, a candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial ticket in Ondo, and Usman Ododo, the governor of Kogi.

The seven-person committee in charge of the Ondo APC gubernatorial primary is led by Ododo.

There was an argument after a few party members congregated at the BON Hotel in Akure, where the election papers were supposed to be given. 

Edema approached Ododo from the crowd and informed him that election materials were going to be sent to a number of the state’s wards.

The candidate also stated that Ovie Omo-Agege, the secretary of the primary election committee, had declared that the actual voting would begin at 1 pm and terminate at 2 pm, and that accreditation would begin at 10 am and be finished by 1 pm.

The committee was then charged by Edema with violating the exercise’s guidelines.

Election materials have been supplied to wards in the state’s north and south senatorial districts, according to Ododo’s answer.

“I came in this morning as early as past eight for this national assignment to humanity. You claim that there has never been material issued to any of the 203 wards,” the governor said.

“From the brief I have gotten from the secretary of this APC primary election, that of the north and south have been released since morning. And it remains that of the central, which is what we have been trying to sort out.”

Reacting, Edema said his ward is located in the state’s south senatorial district and “the returning officer who ought to collect materials for my ward, Mahin Ward II in Ilaje local government area, is here and unable to collect any materials”.

“I’m from Ilaje LGA. [Voting material] has not been sent there. How did it arrive there? Through what medium? I have been here by 6:30 am,” the governorship aspirant said.

“I am one of the aspirants. The returning officer who ought to collect material for my ward, Mahin Ward II, in the Ilaje local government area, is here and unable to collect any materials. He has been here since seven o’clock. No material was given to him.”

The confrontation then climaxed into shouts and heated exchanges. [CONTINUE READING HERE]