Chief Olusola Oke SAN has accused Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State of planning to fraudulently impose a candidate to fly the flag of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November governorship election in Ondo State.
Oke, a leading aspirant of the APC in the disputed governor primary, stated this in a press statement by Ọjọ Oyewamide, the spokesperson of his media campaign organisation.
He stated this in reaction to a notice of rescheduled primary for today in Okitipupa Local Goverment Area of the state.
Oke said the notice of the rescheduled exercise was a manifestation and confirmation of the alleged plan of Governor Ododo, who is the chairman of the Ondo APC Primary Election Committee, to pick a candidate for the party through a fraudulent means.
“We have read on social media a notice of rescheduled primary election slated for today, Sunday 21st of April, 2024, in Okitipupa Local governments Area.
“The notice was said to have been issued by Governor Usman Ododo who is the chairman of the Ondo APC Governorship Primary Election Committee.
“As we prepare to make the whole world see the monumental fraud perpetrated by Governor Ododo and his men, this irritating notice has further confirmed that the governor has a premeditated plan to impose on the people of Ondo state a fraudulent electoral process that can only produce fraudulent leadership,” Oyewamide stated in the statement.
The Ondo APC Governorship aspirant also insisted that there was primary election of the party in any part of the state, hence there can never be a rescheduled election.
“First and foremost, there was no election anywhere in Ondo state, so there can never be a rescheduled election.
“Secondly, the purported rescheduled election is fixed for 12 midday today, Sunday 21st. This is gross insensitivity and disrespect to the religion of our party members who were robbed of their democratic rights by Governor Ododo and his hired enablers.
“By 12 midday, many of these loyal and dedicated party members will still be in their respective worship centres.
“The need for the purported rescheduled primary election arises as a result of their unsuccessful attempt to smuggle in the already written election results of the primary, having been resisted by some men of conscience who refused be initiated into the Kogi democratic system of violence and intimidation to win election.
We understand the limitation of Governor Ododo. He is a product of an election process that is driven by violence and intimidation.
“Seeing an election that is characterised by violence, gross intimidation and open manipulation means nothing to him. The presence of Governor Ododo was the impetus that further energised the hired thugs that militarised the election.
“Therefore, it is understandable that Governor Ododo and his team have no respect for the guidelines of the primary election that should be a guide for their actions.
“Summarily, we do not expect a man whose only democratic credential, as an emerging leader, is subversion of democratic process. He should be told that this is Ondo State.
“We are ready to use any legal and acceptable means to redress these shenanigans. We are Ondo State people; we are no conquered people,” Oyewamide added in the statement.
