Because the collation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship major election ends in Ondo State begun, incumbent Governor Fortunate Aiyedatiwa is coasting to victory amid protests from different aspirants.
Aiyedatiwa, who contested Saturday’s APC governorship major election alongside 15 different aspirants, is in early lead as outcomes continued to trickle in from polling items throughout the state on Saturday night.
Though, the seven-man Electoral Committee of the get together led by Governor Ahmed Ododo of Kogi State was but to formally announce the winner of the train, LEADERSHIP gathered that the panel might ultimately announce the governor as a winner based mostly on the fact on floor.
To retain his seat, the incumbent governor is looking for the ticket of the APC alongside 15 different aspirants, which embody Olusoji Ehinlanwo, Jimi Odimayo, Jimoh Ibrahim, and the APC Nationwide Vice Chairman (South-West), Isaac Kekemeke.
Others are Wale Akinterinwa, Olugbenga Edema, Chief Olusola Oke (SAN), Olamide Ohunyeye, Morayo Lebi, Oladiran Iyantan, Prof. Francis Faduyile, Mayowa Akinfolarin, and Ifeoluwa Oyedele, in addition to two feminine aspirants, Funmilayo Adekojo and Funke Omogoroye.
LEADERSHIP stories {that a} whole of 171,922 accredited members of the get together had been anticipated to vote within the direct major election train scheduled to carry in 203 Wards of the 18 native authorities areas of the State.
Nevertheless, the governorship major election held on Saturday was characterised by violence in some places at the same time as some aspirants alleged that voting didn’t happen in many of the 203 Wards.
Addressing journalists at BON Resort in Akure, the state capital earlier on Saturday, the aggrieved aspirants known as for the cancellation of the governorship major election over alleged fraud perpetrated by the Electoral Committee led by Governor Ododo of Kogi State.
The aspirants, who additionally requested the nationwide management of the get together to, as a matter of urgency, take away the chairman of the Electoral Committee, famous that they not belief in his capability to conduct a free and honest election following the controversy surrounding the train.
Led by Barrister Gbenga Edema, the aspirants faulted the train and warned that the event, if not dealt with nicely, may have an effect on the end result of the shadow election and the November 2024 governorship election.
Nevertheless, the chairman of the Electoral Committee, Governor Ahmed Ododo of Kogi State, recommended stakeholders and members of the get together in Ondo State for his or her orderly conduct and big turnout through the direct major election.
Governor Ododo gave the commendation whereas receiving stories from members of the APC Governorship Major Election Committee, safety businesses and different stakeholders, who monitored the conduct of the first election in several components of the 18 native authorities areas of the state.
In accordance with Governor Ododo, “I’ve obtained stories from our committee members and safety businesses in addition to NGOs monitoring the election together with video footage and I can say that the method has been clear and we’re going to produce a candidate that may unify the APC forward of the November 2024 governorship election within the state.”
Responding to questions over delay in arrival of electoral supplies in some wards and native authorities areas, Governor Ododo stated he was sure that the delay had no hostile impact on the conduct of the first election.
The Kogi State governor additionally expressed confidence that considerations observed within the revalidated membership listing wouldn’t have any main affect on the end result of the first election, stressing that the committee was nicely guided by the APC pointers for the nomination of candidates for basic elections and related provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.
Governor Ododo known as on the aspirants and their supporters to see the first election as a contest amongst brothers and sisters in a single household looking for to make the household higher as a candidate of the get together within the November, 2024 governorship election in Ondo State.