Ondo APC group rejects ‘kangaroo primaries,’ seeks national intervention

The All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders and aggrieved groups under the aegis of Ondo State APC Concerned Members have strongly condemned the party’s House of Representatives primary elections, labeling them a “kangaroo process” marred by systemic fraud, manipulation, and violence.

Describing the exercise as a complete mockery of internal democracy, the group has issued a passionate call for immediate intervention by the APC National Working Committee (NWC) and President Bola Tinubu.

This was contained in a petition addressed to the National Chairman of the APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and signed by Kola Adesina on behalf of “Ondo State APC Concern”.

The group claimed that primary elections were conducted across nine federal constituencies in the state, but results announced for Akure South/Akure North, Okitipupa/Irele, and Ondo East/Ondo West did not reflect the actual winners.

It alleged that the declaration of the results violated due process and failed to comply with established party guidelines.

According to the statement, results for six other constituencies, including Akoko North East/North West, Akoko South West/South East, Owo/Ose, Idanre/Ifedore, Ilaje/Ese-Odo, and Odigbo/Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo, were yet to be announced when the process was disrupted.

The group alleged that members of the National Assembly Election Committee, led by Hon. Iboroma Harry Dabibi, arrived at the Ondo State APC Secretariat in Akure at about 7 p.m. on Sunday to resume the announcement of results before the exercise was allegedly interrupted by political thugs.

It further claimed that a disqualified aspirant from Idanre stormed the venue with supporters who chased away committee members, journalists, and party officials despite the presence of security personnel.

According to the group, members of the election committee later suspended the exercise and left the venue over concerns for their safety, leaving results for the remaining six constituencies unannounced.

The group described the incident as a threat to the credibility of the primaries and accused unnamed actors of attempting to subvert the democratic process within the party.

It argued that the process failed to comply with APC guidelines, which require ward collation, local government collation, constituency collation, and submission of results to the party’s national headquarters before final announcements are made.

The group therefore called on the APC national leadership to reject the disrupted process, direct the election committee to reconvene under adequate security, and investigate alleged partisan interference and the use of thugs during the exercise.

It warned that allowing the outcome to stand could damage the credibility of the party in Ondo State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“We trust that the National Leadership will act swiftly to uphold due process, protect party members, and restore confidence in the internal democracy of the APC,” the statement added.