Ahead of the bye-election for the Akure South/North Federal Constituency in Ondo State, the two major political parties in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have slated their primaries for Tuesday and Thursday.
While the APC primary election to pick its candidate for the by-election holds on Tuesday, the PDP will conduct its primary election to pick the candidate for the bye-election on Thursday with both parties adopting the indirect mode of primary for the election.
It was gathered that no fewer than eight eligible aspirants from APC have been cleared to contest for the ticket in the primary slated to hold at Dome International Event Center in Akure, the state capital.
The party decided on the mode of primary to be adopted for today’s election after a crucial meeting at the party secretariat, saying 715 delegates will participate in the primary election for APC.
State Publicity Secretary, Alex Kalejaye, who confirmed the number of aspirants for the election said provisions in Electoral Act allow political parties to produce their candidates for the bye-election between February 1 to 6.
Also speaking the PDP Publicity Secretary in the state, Mr Kennedy Peretei, confirmed that five aspirants will contest for the position during the party’s primary, stating that none among the aspirants has withdrawn from the race.
According to him, about 350 delegates from the two local governments are expected at the venue to elect the candidate for the party in the election.
Peretei assured that the election will be a seamless and peaceful exercise, expressing optimism that the PDP will coast home to victory in the election, saying Akure is regarded as the stronghold of PDP in the state.
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“We have been consulting Akure people to vote for the PDP as a party that can deliver for them and not disappoint the people,” he said.
It will be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had fixed February 26 for the conduct of bye-elections to fill the vacant legislative seats in the state.
The seat was vacant following the death of the lawmaker representing Akure South/North Federal Constituency, Hon Adedayo Omolafe of PDP on August 16.
Meanwhile, the outgoing deputy governor of Anambra State, Mr Nkem Okeke, has been appointed by the national leadership of the APC to head the committee to conduct the primary election of the party to pick the candidate in the bye-election.
The seven-man committee has Ambassador Anthony Ogah as secretary.
However, the wife of the state governor, Mrs Betty Akeredolu, has distanced herself from the endorsement of any of the APC aspirants for the election.
Mrs Akeredolu who stated this in a statement signed by her SSA Media, Oluwatobi Fademi, described the allegation as untrue and an attempt to drag her name into a needless controversy.
The statement read: “The attention of the wife of the governor, Chief (Mrs) Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has been drawn to a report circulating online that she has endorsed an aspirant for the 2022 House of Representatives By-Election for Akure North and South Federal Constituency.
“Mrs Akeredolu described the impression as untrue, unfounded and a cheap attempt by frivolous persons at dragging her name into needless controversy.
“While she expressed disappointment at such a level of mischief, the wife of governor insists that she aligns herself irrevocably to the governor’s stance of neutrality and a level playing field to all aspirants to allow for the popular candidate to emerge. She, however, wishes all the aspirants the best of luck.”