Akoko S’West/East by-election: APC members kick against indirect primary, reject new delegate list

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Akoko S’West/East by-election: APC members kick against indirect primary, reject new delegate list

Some members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ondo State, on Thursday, protested the use of indirect primaries ahead of the by-election for the Akoko South East/South West Federal Constituency.

Asserting that the party leadership at the state and national levels had fabricated a fresh delegate list in order to rig the upcoming election, the party leaders mobilised aggrieved constituent to demonstrate at the state APC Secretariat in Akure.

Recall that a Federal High Court, Akure Division, had declared Adegboyega Adefarati’s victory as the party’s candidate for the election invalid and ordered new elections to be held within seven days.

The court also ordered that the election should be held in Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State, at St. Patrick’s Secondary School in Iwaro-Oka.

Dr. Victor Olusegun Ategbole and four other aspirants had contested the outcome of the primary held few months ago.

The court’s decision was acknowledged in a circular with the reference number APC/NHDQ/INEC/19/022/133, dated October 18, 2022, and signed by the APC National Chairman and National Secretary, Senators Abdullahi Adamu and Iyiola Omisore, respectively.

Olakunle Oyegoke, an APC leader from Ifira Ward III in Akoko South East LGA, told journalists that the election did not take place in the constituency and claimed that Adefarati’s candidacy was being contested in court.

“There are about four cases in court, the other cases in court are still continuing and we are still expecting judgment to be given in respect of other cases in court. The prayers of the four cases in court are different, one has been heard and we are still expecting that the others will also pass judgment.”

According to him, they learn that “the party at the national level has issued a directive that there must be a congress, a new congress. And by conduct that congress there must be new process of selection of delegates at the ward levels