Akoko NorthEast/NorthWest Federal Constituency Bye-election: APC Primary marred by protest over delegates list

Ahead of the February 3 bye-elections in Akoko NorthEast/NorthWest Federal Constituency, the All Progressives Congress APC Primary election has been marred by protest from 8 out of the 9 aspirants.

Eight of the Nine aspirants at primary election schedule for Saturday January 6 at Victory College, Ikare-Akoko alleged that the delegates list was doctored in favour of one of the aspirants, Ife Ehindero.

The aspirants are Chief Olugbenga Araoyinbo, Messrs Makinde, Olarewaju Kazeem, Owolabi, Lasisi Olanipekun, Haruna Adesina, Charles Babalola, Olusa and Ife Ehindero.

Intending delegates were surprised to discovered that the displayed list were filled with strange names contrary to the collated names from the ward levels.

In the course of protesting the anomalies, one of the aspirants and former member and Majority Leader in the Ondo State House of Assembly, Mr Olugbenga Araoyinbo raised alarm on the development and called for fair play.

Mr Araoyinbo called on party leadership to ensure the injustice perpetrated did not hold.

Mr Araoyinbo who with other 5 aspirants insisted that the Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo is not permitted by electoral guidelines to singlehandedly allegedly compile and submit delegates list was however arrested by men of Nigeria Police Force.

Addressing the aspirants, the Chairman, APC Election Committee, Alhaji Abubakar Nasir said he was working in consonance with the party’s highlighted guidelines.

Despite the protests, delay experienced and arrest made during the disrupted exercise, the Chairman of the Election Committee declared Ife Ehindero as the winner with one hundred and five polls out of one hundred and six expected delegates, while one vote was recorded as for others.

The venue of the primary election had the presence of men of the Nigeria Police Force, Correctional Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and Immigration services.