Chairmen of the 18 Local Government Areas in Ondo State have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the controversy surrounding the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Assembly primary elections in the state.
Speaking on behalf of the council chairmen, the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Ondo State, Gbenga Fasua, alleged that the candidates announced by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) differed from those declared winners by the electoral committees that conducted the primaries.
Fasua said the appeal was aimed at protecting the credibility of the APC’s internal democratic process and ensuring that the authentic outcomes of the primaries are respected.
He commended President Tinubu for his leadership and also praised Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for promoting peace and unity within the party.
According to him, the primaries were conducted peacefully and in line with the APC constitution and guidelines, with the results duly transmitted to the party’s National Working Committee.
However, he expressed concern that some individuals whose names were not contained in the results submitted by the electoral committees later emerged as the party’s candidates for National Assembly seats.
Fasua warned that the development could undermine confidence in the party’s internal democratic process and create unnecessary divisions among members.
He urged President Tinubu, as the APC’s national leader, to ensure that the original results of the primaries are upheld, expressing confidence that such intervention would promote fairness, strengthen party unity and encourage reconciliation.
The ALGON chairman also dismissed reports that the council chairmen were planning a protest, clarifying that their action was solely an appeal to the party’s leadership to address the concerns raised.