The APC Youths Advocate (AYA) has responded to recent statements attributed to the Ondo People's Assembly (OPA), where the OPA called for the sanction of certain All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirants due to their refusal to accept the outcome of the party's primary election in Ondo state.
Recall that the primary held on April 20th, 2024, which declared the incumbent governor, HE Lucky Ayedatiwa, as the winner, has been engulfed with controversies, with major aspirants and stakeholders calling for its cancellation. Reports have also surfaced alleging that INEC observers in 15 out of the 18 local governments of the state declared that no election was held.
In light of these developments, one of the aggrieved aspirants, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, representing Ondo South, filed a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/588/2024 in the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to nullify the primary election, citing gross irregularities. Subsequently, the Ondo People's Assembly released a statement urging the leadership of the APC to sanction Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (PH.D, OFR CFR) and Chief Olusola Oke (SAN) for their refusal to accept the primary's outcome.
In response to the OPA's statement, the APC Youths Advocate (AYA), through its Publicity Secretary, Adekunle Owolabi, described the OPA as an element aligned with the People's Democratic Party (PDP), aiming to mislead the APC into anarchy. Expressing concerns over the potential consequences of a lack of internal democracy on the party's prospects in the upcoming gubernatorial elections in November, the AYA warned the APC to avoid a repeat of the Zamfara scenario.
The statement reads:
APC YOUTHS ADVOCATE (AYA)
10/05/2024
Re: ONDO PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY (OPA) CONVENERS; "WHY THE APC MUST SANCTION CHIEF OLUSHOLA OKE (SAN) AND SENATOR JIMOH IBRAHIM (PH.D, OFR CFR)"
_(OPA) A PARLEY OF PDP AND AN ARM OF DISUNITY_
The attention of APC YOUTH ADVOCATES (AYA) has been drawn to a frivolous and highly indecorus statement capable of undermining our great party, the APC, in the forthcoming November Gubernatorial Elections by a desperate group OPA.
The first few lines of the said press statement gave away the original intent of the political jobbers whose interest is to ensure division in the APC. Thereby preparing the groundwork for the PDP or other parties to take the shine in Ondo State. We are worried if a house divided against itself can stand?
We vehemently reject the calls capable of causing DISUNITY and restate the fundamental rights of members to seek redress through the court process rather than creating crises, civil unrest, or rancorous coexistence, if these leaders including Wale Akinterinwa (WA) had not prevailed on their supporters not to take laws into their hands. Perhaps a state of emergency may have been declared by now. Showing further potential disasters for the APC and Ondo State. The APC is a party that takes internal DEMOCRACY seriously, and members, when cheated or notice sharp practices, have a right to vent their angers.
In the case of Ondo State APC gubernatorial aspirants, general members of our party who feel aggrieved by the acclaimed "APC SHAM PRIMARY ELECTION". While we note the various concerns of party faithfuls and the general populace of Ondo State over the controversial primary election, APC YOUTHS ADVOCATES (AYA) can only appeal for calm Especially to those the shadow conduct of the party may have offended. We are not unaware of the challenges, especially since some of our members were equally unable to vote.
We are further destabilized about the level of attention this issue has gained and the impact on the Democratic image of Nigeria in the face of would be partners and investors globally. Every government deserves legitimacy. We are confident that our party will find a way out. The alleged "SHAM PRIMARY ELECTION" has shattered the democratic gains of yesterday since widespread condemnation and INEC's damning reports as an independent, unbiased monitor and observer agent. This is an unbiased agency statutorily empowered to monitor, supervise, and observe elections by our laws. It calls for more serious concerns than ever to avoid the Zamfara State scenario.
President Tinubu, as a Democrat will rather support this constitutional process of redress than talk down on stakeholders and chieftain of our party. We believe His Excellency, Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa, will be uncomfortable with this line of rhetorics from his supporters.
APC Ondo State can not afford to go into the elections with a divided front in the state. Neither do we pray for a Zamfara scenario in Ondo State. Party faithfuls are worried about the ugly development and would rather hope for some quietness than those pouring fuel to fire.
The fate of the APC lies either in a quick political solution or we finally live to a fate that accepts the Zamfara scenario with the wanton evidence provided, both by INEC, stakeholders, and the general public.
The press statement of (OPA) shows the group as another arm of the oppositions, and the grandstyle attempts to shuttle the APC like the Zamfara scenario.
Our party must continue to preach peace and ensure cohesion in order to win the 2024 Gubernatorial Elections.
In Ondo State, without mincing words, the names of Chief Olushola Oke and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim are household names. They carry enormous popularity and public acceptance. Including the Ajangamo himself, Chief Wale Akinterinwa, former 3 times commissioner of Finance of Ondo State. No party members or agents of the PDP in disguise have a right to rain insults on these distinguished personalities who are our shining stars in Ondo State.
It is important that the governor prevails on the overzealous supporters before they truncate the chances of the APC finally in Ondo State.
APC YOUTHS ADVOCATE (AYA) will continue to advocate for a peaceful resolution or out of court settlement to save the APC from the impending implosion. There is no gainsaying, danger looms ahead for the Party. We must do everything possible to avert it.
SIGNED:
ADEKUNLE OWOLABI
Publicity Secretary.
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 Condemns Ondo People's Assembly's Statement, Describes OPA as PDP Mole){kind=link}
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