– Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the APC national chairman, subverted justice by disregarding the majority of votes cast by the NWC to favour a rerun
– 6 members of the APC NWC had reportedly voted to ratify the recommendation of annulment given by the Appeal Committee, while 5 members voted against it
– The decision was about to be made public and the process of a quick rerun put in ignition, before Oyegun reportedly hijacked the window to a unilateral decision to submit Akeredolu’s name to INEC
– Oyegun’s action has been deemed to be even constitutionally wrong as the NWC is the highest organ of the party that is meant to adjudge over the issue and give a final verdict
Chief John Odigie Oyegun, the All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman, unilaterally overruled the majority decision of the National Working Committee (NWC) for a fresh primary to pick the party’s governorship candidate for the November 26 election in Ondo State, NAIJ.com learnt on Thursday, September 22.
This decision had been termed brash, anti-party and shocking by most party members in the state, and is expectedly to be met with stiff opposition from a majority of the party members whose will wasn’t actualized in the announced result of the September 3 primary election.
READ ALSO: APC endorses Akeredolu as governorship candidate in Ondo
Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, APC national chairman, subverted justice by disregarding majority of votes cast by NWC to favour a rerun in Ondo.
This failure to honour and actualize the will of the delegates is already having adverse effect on the party’s chances at the general election, if not redressed as recommended by the Appeals’ Committee.
The party’s Appeal Committee, headed by Mrs Helen Bendega, recommended the cancellation of the disputed primary which produced Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) and a fresh primary.
After meeting for three days, sources said the 12-member NWC failed to reach a consensus. It decided to vote on the outcome. The 13th member of the body elected not to participate.
The two motions voted on are: Adoption of the recommendation of the Appeal Panel to cancel the primaries that allegedly produced Akeredolu and conduct a fresh one; and to adopt the submission of the Vice Chairman (South-west zone) Akinyelure’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to beat the deadline, pending the resolution of the logjam.
It was learnt that six members voted to uphold the recommendation of the Appeal Panel, which is a fresh primary. Five members voted to upturn the report of the panel and retain Akeredolu as candidate.
READ ALSO: Ondo APC set for fresh poll as LG chairmen debunk advertorial
But, contrary to the normal procedure that the chairman could only cast a deciding vote in the event of a tie, Oyegun decided to overrule the majority decision that already reached by six members.
He reportedly forwarded Akeredolu’s name to INEC as the party’s candidate.
“A majority of the NWC members had taken a decision with their votes. What the chairman did was to brashly and unilaterally overrule the majority and force his opinion on the majority,” one of the NWC members, who pleaded not be named, said.
NAIJ.com recalls that the appeal panel, which examined the petitions against the governorship primary, recommended its cancellation.
Panel chairman and secretary signed the recommendations while the third member did not authenticate it.
The Appeal panel made its recommendation based on the corruption of the delegates list. It also observed that there was evidence that non-party members were recruited to vote.
National Organising Secretary Osita Izunaso, was accused of “colluding to manipulate the delegates’ list. He was also alleged to have provided extra tags to non-delegates to vote.”
The post Ondo APC primaries: How Oyegun unilaterally subverted justice appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read Naij.com 24/7.
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