Ondo APC crisis deepens as youths reject imposition of contestants

Ondo State wing of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has protested against a list released by the National Working Committee (NWC), saying the list smacked of imposition of some candidates on the party.

Led by the state’s Youth Leader, Omotayo Babalayo, they described NWC’s action as imposition that could spell doom for the party ahead of the 2019 general elections.

They slammed the national leadership of the party for not creating a level playing field for all aspirants, insisting: “We are saying no to imposition.

“We are saying no to automatic tickets for any aspirants. There must be a room for everybody to be accommodated. We don’t want criminality and impunity in our party. We ask for change, but this is not the change we asked for.”

Babalayo stated that since the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole took over the leadership from Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, they thought everything would change for good, but things had deteriorated beyond the unimaginable.

“We don’t want any automatic ticket for aspirants. The leadership should allow everybody to contest. Ondo State is not a place Oshiomhole can use as a testing ground,” he said.

However, the NWC had screened out other aspirants for the Senate, including, Dr. Tunji Felder, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Odunayo Akinrinsola, Victor Olabimtan, Tunji Abayomi and gave the incumbent senators automatic tickets.

The incumbents are, Ajayi Boroffice representing Ondo North senatorial district, Tayo Alasoadura (Ondo Central) and Yele Omogunwa (Ondo South).

Meanwhile, confusion continued to trail APC’s House of Representatives primaries in Kano State, as most incumbents lost their bids to secure return tickets.

While crisis characterised the exercise in Turauni, Kumbotso and Municipal areas, two returning officers released conflicting results in some areas.

However, the party leadership in Kano said comprehensive results of the 24 seats would be released soon.

Curiously, two presidential aides lost their bid to secure tickets for the House of Representatives polls.

Special Assistant to President Muhammad Buhari on broadcasting, Ibrahim Sha’aban Sharada, lost Municipal federal constituency to Mutari Isiaq, a former local council Chairman and associate of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

Special Assistant on Economic Matters in the office of the Vice President, Hafizu Ibrahim’s chance is also threatened by conflicting results in his Tarauni constituency.