The All progressives Congress, APC through a statement signed by it national Secretary, Mai Mala Buni has revealed why it overrules the Appeal Panel Committee recommendation to nullify Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu's candidacy as the Ondo State's gubernatorial candidate.
The APC in the state dismissed the claims by some aggrieved aspirants that majority of the National working Committee member voted in favour to nullify the election.
The statement in part reads; “voting on the issue did not arise in view of the NWC’s rejection of the Appeal Committee’s report”. Buni also stated that the NWC took the decision to reject the recommendations of the Committee on two grounds.
Firstly, it lacked merit and secondly because of time. In a statement, the party said: “For the records, the National Working Committee (NWC) decision to reject the 2016 Ondo State APC Governorship Primary Election Appeal Committee Report was taken on Tuesday, September 20, 2016 in executive session after careful and exhaustive deliberation. The minutes and rejection was confirmed by the NWC on Thursday, September 22, 2016.
The trio also took a swipe at the leadership of the APC over its refusal to implement the report of the Appeal Committee of the party, which recommended the nullification of the primary election that produced Akeredolu as the candidate of the party.
The aspirants including Dr. Segun Abraham who came second, Chief Olusola Oke and Prof Robert Ajayi Boroffice who came third and fourth respectively ruled out the possibility of supporting Akeredolu to win the November 26 governorship election in the state, while threatening to dump the party for a new platform in order to contest the forthcoming election.
Addressing reporters at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) press centre in Akure, the state capital, the aspirants condemned the Na-tional Chairman, Chief John Oyegun for his “undemocratic behavior” by overruling the decision of the National Working Committee (NWC).
Boroffice who spoke on behalf of the other aggrieved aspirants said they are already consulting with their people and would soon make public their next line of action that would liberate the people from the present state of hopelessness and despair.
“The appeal committee within the mandate of their authority having regards to the preponderance of evidence laid before it recommended that the election be nullified and another election be conducted. “The majority of the members of the NWC voted that the recommendations of the appeal committee be upheld. To our dismay and in a manner at variance with democratic norms, the National Chairman overruled the majority of the NWC.
“He rejected the path of truth and upheld the primary election that it’s process was charcterised with corruption. Let it be known that we are not deterred by the action of the NWC and the undemocratic behaviour of the chairman.
“We are encouraged by the genuine desire of the people of Ondo State for a change that will free them from the economic captivity of the present administration in the state. ” We are determine to liberate our people and no undemocratic decision of a party and its leadership would be allowed to misdirect our attention from the goal.
We condemn in absolute terms the undemocratic decision of the NWC. “Since our party and the official leaders of the party have found pleasure in covering fraud, we owe the people of Ondo State a sacred duty of liberation. This we are committed to and this we shall do. ”
In the days ahead, we shall consult widely and make public the next line of action that will liberate our people from the present state of hopelessness and despair On the plan to dump the party, Boroffice said, “the people of the state will determine what our next decision would be. On his part, Oke said: ” We are still examining the situation, if we get to the bridge we will cross it.
We have no personal position. We will come out later with a clean and clear position within the shortest period of time. “I have not moved out of APC when I am ready I will shout it and address the press.
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