—Disqualified aspirants fingered
—Security evacuates, primary committee after thug invasion
By Dayo Johnson Akure
Political thugs allegedly sponsored by a disqualified All Progressives Congress House of Representatives aspirant disrupted the collation and announcement of results of last Saturday’s primaries at the party’s state secretariat in Akure.
The incident forced security personnel to evacuate the seven-member National Assembly Primary Election Committee, led by Hon. Iboroma Harry Dabibi, from the secretariat.
Ondo APC Chairman Kolawole Babatunde, other party executives, electoral officers, delegates, and supporters escaped through the back door.
Eyewitnesses said the thugs stormed the secretariat and ordered the committee chairman to halt the announcement of winners.
“It was a disqualified aspirant who mobilised thugs to the venue, and the atmosphere became tense,” one source said.
“People were leaving because nobody wanted the situation to get out of hand.
The confusion began after a committee member received a phone call instructing that proceedings be halted.
“I was live on Facebook when the announcement started.
” They were about to call a federal constituency result when someone on the phone said the process should be stopped.
“We all thought it was the governor, but later realised it was allegedly coming from someone else in the state government.”
The source alleged that the thugs arrived before the committee and positioned themselves to cause chaos.
“They had mobilised boys from different wards. They were shouting and threatening to disrupt everything. It became unsafe for many people to remain there.”
Meanwhile, the Ondo APC has set up a Primary Appeal Committee to hear petitions from aggrieved aspirants.
State Secretary Alex Kalejaye said in a statement that the committee would sit at the party secretariat starting today.
“The APC in Ondo State wishes to inform House of Representatives aspirants who are displeased with the primary process that the Primary Appeal Committee will be ready to entertain complaints today at the State Secretariat.”
The party said the panel was established in the spirit of fairness and justice and would continue sitting until all grievances are addressed.
Article Thugs disrupt Ondo APC primary Collation Live On NgGossips.
