Coalition of Civil Society Observer Groups has called for the cancellation of APC governorship primary election of April 20, 2024 in Ondo state.
The group also called for a fresh transparent, credible and all-inclusive primary election to be immediately conducted within the next few days considering INEC’s timetable and in total compliance with the party guideline and constitution.
The CSOs team leader, Comrade Eleojo Emem, and Secretary, Oluwafemi Kayode, in a press statement on Thursday said the group having carefully followed the entire process of the election, observed that it contravened both the party’s constitution and guidelines.
The statement also observed that the conduct of the election was not in line with the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) set standards, citing late arrival of the party’s election committee to Ondo state.
According to the statement, the committee arrived less than 24 hours to the crucial assignment and convened a stakeholders/aspirants’ meeting on the eve of the election when aspirants and political stakeholders were already expected to be at their various localities for the election.
It noted that the election was not conducted in the entire wards/centers in the state but was rather stage-managed in selected wards/centers in few Local Government Areas for media show.
The statement alleged there was a free movement of thugs with dangerous weapons which scared and intimidated party faithful from participating in the exercise in some areas.
The statement stressed, “Bearing in mind the crucial role played by stakeholders’ meetings in disseminating important information, clarifying doubts, and building trust among party members ahead of the election, despite the late and very inconvenient timing of the stakeholders meeting, the turnout was still very impressive as aspirants and party members were eager to receive final instruction from the election committee regarding the conduct of a credible, transparent, free and fair all-inclusive election.
“The Ondo state governorship election of 16th November, 2024 presented a golden opportunity for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to further consolidate her grip on the South West, but that can only be achieved through a credible, transparent, free and fair Primary Election where all the aspirants will be treated equal and fairly.”
