… Warn against subversion, vow to resist imposition

Stakeholders within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akoko South-West Local Council Area of Ondo State have rejected what they described as an alleged plot to replace the party’s House of Assembly standard bearer for Akoko South-West Constituency I.

According to the party leaders during a protest, any attempt to substitute the winner of the primary election could trigger widespread disaffection within the party ranks ahead of elections.

The party faithful, who gathered in Oka-Akoko, headquarters of Akoko South West, on Thursday, raised the alarm over reports that the name of Akogun Olugbenga Omole, whom they said emerged victorious in the APC primary election, was being substituted with that of another aspirant, Raymond Daodu.

While insisting that the outcome of the primary must be respected to preserve the integrity of the party’s electoral process, the Returning Officer of the APC primary election for Akoko South-West Constituency I, Hon. Christopher Omolorun, disclosed that their action became imperative following intelligence reports of an alleged move to substitute Omole’s name in Abuja.

Omolorun described the development as unacceptable, stressing that the stakeholders decided to raise the alarm before the alleged substitution was concluded.

According to him, Omole secured 4,648 votes in the primary election, while Daodu polled 921 votes, emphasizing that the outcome reflected the wishes of party members in the constituency and adding that the party leadership should investigate the issue and uphold the outcome of the primary election.

He warned that the people of Oka had consistently resisted the imposition of candidates, recalling previous elections where candidates perceived to have been imposed were rejected by the electorate.

Omolorun appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the APC leadership to ensure that the outcome of the primary election was respected, warning that any attempt to alter the result could weaken the party’s support base in the constituency.

“We are hearing a rumor that the person we voted for, Akogun Olugbenga Omole, may have his name substituted in Abuja. We will not accept that from any quarter. We are raising the alarm now so that if the rumor is true, it should be corrected immediately.

“We want Mr. President and the party leadership in Abuja to know that we reject any attempt to impose a candidate on us. Oka people will not accept imposition because the mandate was freely given to Omole,” Omolorun said.

Omolorun further stated that with the people loyal to Tinubu, the alleged substitution could affect grassroots mobilization for the APC if not addressed promptly.

The APC Chairman in Akoko South-West, Sunday Agbede, said party members had mandated him to deliver a letter of petition to the APC State Chairman over the alleged development.

Agbede said the stakeholders had chosen peaceful and constitutional means to ventilate their grievances, stressing that there had been no violence despite the tension generated by the issue.

“The people voted for Akogun Olubenga Omole during the primary, but by the time the result was announced, another person’s name appeared. “I have been asked to take their letter to the state chairman because we want peace and we want the issue resolved within the party,” Agbede said.

Also speaking, one of the House of Assembly aspirants, Biola Balogun, said six aspirants voluntarily stepped down for Omole before the primary because of his popularity and track record.

Balogun described the alleged replacement as unjustified, saying the people had overwhelmingly chosen Omole as the party’s candidate and deserved to have their decision respected.

“All of us stepped down for Omole because the people wanted him. He won the primary, so we were surprised to hear that another person’s name was announced. We believe the mandate given to him should be protected,” he said.