The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has rejected the claim by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which stated that the party’s primary held on April 20, 2024, was characterized by irregularities. The party stated its disappointment at the report, and termed the claim about the primary by INEC as “shocking.”

Amid the disclosures of irregularities mentioned in the report, the party encouraged its members in the state to remain calm, saying that their attention should be on the forthcoming Governorship Election on 16 November, 2024.

In a report submitted by INEC officials who monitored the primary election across the 203 political wards in the State, instances of irregularities were recorded during the exercise. Among the anomalies cited by the officials included the non-arrival of electoral materials in some areas and the improper collation of election results.

Reacting, the Publicity Secretary of the Party in the State, Alex Kalejaye blamed some members of the Party for planning to rubbish the process because they lost out in the primary election.

“For the record, elections took place in all 18 Local Government Areas in the State. There were agitations in the Ifedore and Ilaje Local Government Areas. While the results for the entire Ifedore Local Government were canceled, those for Ilaje affected about four wards, were also canceled.”

“The essence of such cancellations was to emphasize the validity of the entire process and lend credence to fairness. The voting strength of our members in the affected areas was not substantial enough to dent the credibility of the process or affect the margin with which the candidate emerged.”

He stated, “The party therefore doubts the authenticity of the report, credited to an agent of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The party urges its teeming supporters to discountenance the spurious report and focus on the bigger task ahead: to win the Governorship election and retain the Sunshine State for APC.”

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