Chaos ensued at the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary in Ondo State, where clashes between supporters of rival candidates led to the theft of electoral materials. The incident occurred early Saturday at Ward 1, Stella Maris College, in the Okitipupa area, disrupting the pre-election process.
Sources at the scene reported that the violence erupted before the accreditation and voting could commence, causing many party members to evacuate the venue in haste. A participant, who requested to remain unnamed, disclosed that an agent of one of the aspirants seized the accreditation documents and fled the scene.
Further complicating the situation, accusations of mishandling the electoral process were levied against the election committee, led by Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo. Dissatisfied stakeholders expressed concerns about bias and mismanagement by the committee.
Governor Ododo, who arrived in Akure on Saturday morning, reassured stakeholders during a briefing at the distribution center in Ijapo, asserting that the electoral materials had already been dispatched to Ondo South and North Senatorial Districts by 10:30 AM.
However, this statement was contested by one of the aspirants, Gbenga Edema, who claimed that no materials had been distributed. "I have been present since 6:30 AM and saw no materials leave this location. The officers for my ward in Ilaje Local Government are still here without materials," Edema stated, calling for a credible and properly managed election.
The discrepancies in statements between the committee chair and the aspirants highlight the tensions and challenges surrounding the organization of the primary, with calls for potential postponement to ensure fairness and transparency in the election process.
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