APC PRIMARY: ONDO ASPIRANTS ALLEGE PLOT TO USE THUGS, SEEK SECURITY INTERVENTION

Some National Assembly and State House of Assembly aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State have raised concerns over an alleged plot to disrupt the party’s forthcoming primaries scheduled for Friday.

The aspirants, drawn from across the state’s 203 wards and seeking tickets for the 2027 general elections, alleged that thugs may be mobilised to interfere with the exercise.

Speaking in Akure on Thursday on behalf of the group, House of Representatives aspirant, Jimi Adekanle, alleged that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa had endorsed a list of preferred aspirants without broad consultation.

He claimed the development was capable of undermining internal democracy within the party and warned of possible violence targeted at those outside the alleged list.

Adekanle alleged that intelligence available to the group indicated plans to attack excluded aspirants and their supporters at the primaries, with claims that such actions could be backed by security personnel.

He further raised concerns that a follow-up meeting had been scheduled for financial and logistical arrangements ahead of the alleged plan, describing the situation as a serious threat to democratic participation.

The group called on the national leadership of the APC as well as security agencies to urgently intervene to prevent any breakdown of law and order and to safeguard the credibility of the primaries.

Meanwhile, the Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, dismissed the allegations, insisting that the governor had no involvement in any plan to sponsor violence.

According to him, Governor Aiyedatiwa remains committed to ensuring a peaceful, transparent and credible primary election in line with the directive of President Bola Tinubu.

He urged aspirants and party stakeholders to conduct themselves peacefully before, during and after the exercise, stressing that the state leadership is working to guarantee orderliness throughout the process.