Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Friday warned APC aspirants against violence ahead of the party’s primaries.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Friday warned APC aspirants and supporters in Ondo State against violence ahead of the party’s National Assembly primaries, insisting that the exercise must be peaceful and credible.
The governor gave the warning during a stakeholders’ meeting with members of the APC National Assembly Election Committee at the party secretariat in Akure, ahead of the House of Representatives and Senate primaries scheduled for Saturday and Monday respectively.
Aiyedatiwa urged aspirants, party leaders and supporters to conduct themselves peacefully and avoid actions capable of damaging the credibility of the process, stressing that Ondo State must sustain its record of peaceful elections.
“There should be no rancour. There should be no fight. This is our party affair. Everyone should cooperate with one another,” he said.
The governor assured party members that his administration would not interfere in the primaries, adding that security agencies had been mobilised across the state to maintain order during the exercise.
He also directed eligible APC members to report to their various ward centres by 8 a.m. with valid membership cards, explaining that Permanent Voter Cards would not be required for participation in the direct primaries.
Chairman of the National Assembly Election Committee, Hon. Iboroma Harry Dabibi, assured stakeholders that the exercise would be transparent and conducted in line with the party constitution and Electoral Act.
According to him, accredited party members would vote by queuing behind posters of their preferred aspirants across the 203 wards in the state.
Dabibi warned against any form of misconduct and urged aspirants to accept the outcome of the exercise in good faith.
Ondo State APC Chairman, Hon. Babatunde Kolawole, said all logistics and security arrangements had been concluded for a smooth and peaceful primary election.
Among those present at the meeting were Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, members of the State Executive Council, lawmakers and party stakeholders.
