Chaos Erupts in Ondo: APC Women, Youth Block Governor's Convoy Over Primary Results

Women and youth members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State staged a peaceful protest in Akure on Monday, expressing strong rejection of the party's revised list of senatorial and House of Representatives candidates. The protesters demanded the immediate release of what they claimed were the authentic results of the direct primary elections, arguing that the circulated list did not reflect the will of the people.

Marching through the state capital, demonstrators carried placards with messages such as “Ondo State Is on Fire,” “Ondo State Says No to Abuja Result,” and “Let Our Votes Count.” Mrs. Seun Osamaye, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, addressed journalists, dismissing the circulated list as fake. She emphasized that party members were aware of the candidates who genuinely emerged from the direct primaries and were confused by the discrepancies between their votes and the names on the revised list. Osamaye appealed directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for intervention, trusting in his commitment to democratic principles.

Adding to the sentiment, Mr. Bright Ojo, a youth leader, characterized the revised list as a “democratic coup” against APC members in Ondo State. He alleged that aspirants who had lost the primaries were being substituted into the new list and questioned the role of the party’s national leadership in these significant changes. The protest underscored widespread discontent among party members regarding the post-primary review process.

The demonstrations followed the emergence of details concerning major changes approved by the APC National Working Committee (NWC) after appeals arising from the primary elections. In the senatorial contests for Ondo State, Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire (SAN) replaced Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti as the candidate for Ondo Central, and Senator Olajide Ipinsagba was substituted for Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye in Ondo North. Hon. Wale Kekemeke, however, retained the Ondo South ticket.

Furthermore, the review led to changes in all six affected House of Representatives constituencies. Donald Ojogo, Festus Akingbaso, Oluwatimehin Adelegbe, Okunjimi Odimayo, Michael Akintomide, and Festus Adefiranye were confirmed as candidates following the appeal process. These extensive substitutions have made Ondo State one of the most significantly impacted areas by the APC’s post-primary review, effectively overturning the initial outcomes of several constituency primaries and fueling the current wave of protests and dissatisfaction among party faithful.