15 Things You Need to Know About Aiyedatiwa APC Governorship Primary Victory
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State emerged victorious in the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary, securing the party’s ticket for the upcoming November 16, 2024 governorship election in the state.
Aiyedatiwa won against 15 other aspirants, amassing a total of 48,569 votes across the 18 local government areas.
Despite his victory, the electoral process was marred by protests and allegations of irregularities from some of the aspirants.
The primary election was supervised by the seven-man Electoral Committee of the party, led by Governor Ahmed Ododo of Kogi State.
Aiyedatiwa’s closest contender, Mayowa Akinfolarin, secured the second position with 15,343 votes.
The election saw a total of 171,922 accredited members of the party expected to vote in the direct primary election exercise scheduled to hold in 203 Wards of the 18 local government areas of the state.
The exercise was not held in Ifedore Local government area of the state due to a shooting incident, which led to residents being scared to come out and vote.
Aiyedatiwa’s victory has been attributed to his strong support base in Owo, with Deputy Governor Olayide Adelami expressing confidence in the outcome due to the people’s commitment to the Aiyedatiwa project.
After the announcement of the results, some aspirants, including Gbenga Edema and the Programme Officer of the Wale Akinterinwa Campaign Organization, Sola Arowosafe, called for the cancellation of the primary, alleging irregularities and a lack of credibility in the process.
Governor Aiyedatiwa was sworn in as governor of Ondo state following the death of his principal and former governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), who died in Germany after a protracted illness.
The primary election was conducted in a tense and controversial atmosphere, with some aspirants asking the national leadership of the APC to remove the chairman of the Electoral Committee, Governor Usman Ododo, due to a lack of trust in his ability to conduct a free and fair election.
Aiyedatiwa lost the Ilaje Local Government Area to Oke in the primary elections.
Aiyedatiwa’s victory has positioned him as a strong contender for the November governorship election, with his campaign focusing on development and unity within the party.
The APC leadership, including Governor Ododo, has called on all aspirants and their supporters to come together in support of Aiyedatiwa for the November election, emphasizing that the primary was a contest among brothers and sisters seeking to make the family better.
The controversy surrounding the primary election and the allegations of irregularities have raised concerns about the credibility of the electoral process within the APC and its implications for the upcoming governorship election.
