ANALYSIS: Ondo APC guber primaries falls short of democratic ideals

The governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state on April 20th was marred by significant challenges, ranging from violence and protests to logistical issues.

As the APC sought to determine its candidate for the November governorship election from a pool of 16 aspirants, the direct primaries encountered widespread dissatisfaction among voters.

Reports from various wards revealed scenes of unrest and frustration as stranded voters protested against irregularities in the electoral process.

The emergence of videos capturing these irregularities adds credibility to the claims made by disgruntled voters, emphasizing the need for a thorough investigation into the electoral procedures.

“Ward 1, no election! Ward 1 no election “, the women were seen chanting in the video.

An aged woman was also heard saying, we did not vote here. They demanded that the primary election should be cancelled.

In another video sighted by our correspondent some hoodlums were seen shooting sporadically into the air to disrupt the election.

Although the location in the video was not known, there were reported cases of such incidents at Ward 1 at Stella Maris College, Okitipupa area of the state, and Idanre.

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At Stella Maris College, Okitipupa, accredited party members, who had gathered in large numbers to participate in the candidate selection process, fled the scene when violence erupted among the rival factions.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the accreditation and election process had not begun when the violence erupted as voters scampered for safety.

At Idanre, some political thugs were said to have shot sporadically in the air to scare voters not in support of their aspirant away.

With this in place, observers have raised concerns about the state of affairs and the leadership at play in the ruling party.

The incident in Irele town, where women delegates protested the absence of the election in their designated area, further highlights the discrepancies observed during the primary election.

Addressing these challenges requires robust mechanisms to ensure the integrity and smooth conduct of electoral processes.

Additionally, the inconclusive nature of the election, spanning over Saturday and Sunday, underscores the urgency for effective solutions to prevent future disruptions and restore public confidence in the electoral system.

As stakeholders analyze the aftermath of the primary election, there is a clear imperative for comprehensive investigations, reforms, and concerted efforts to uphold the principles of democracy and fair representation in Ondo state.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE