Low turnout of voters recorded in APC primary rerun in Okitipupa

The rerun of the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s gubernatorial primary election in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State on Sunday recorded a low turnout in some wards.

The Gov. Usman Ododo-led APC Primary Election Committee had declared the exercise held on Saturday in the 203 wards in 18 local government areas of the state inconclusive.

In a statement issued in the early hours of Sunday in Akure, Ododo said that reports reaching the committee indicated that the electoral process in 13 wards in Okitipupa LGA suffered some hitches.

Accordingly, the governor declared the governorship primary inconclusive and directed that a rerun be held in the 13 wards in Okitipupa LGA, having a total validated registered members of 9,515.

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A NAN correspondent who monitored the rerun in some wards in Okitipupa reports a low turnout of voters and security agents, compared to the large voter turnout on Saturday.

The wards visited are Okitipupa Ward 1 at Stella Maris College; Okitipupa, Ward 2 at St. John Primary School; Ayeka/Igbodigo ward and Ikoya/Igbinsin/Oloto ward in Ikoya, all in Okitipupa LGA.

NAN reports that no officials, APC committee members or election materials were seen at the wards at the time of filling this report.

The low turnout of voters might also be unconnected with the violence recorded in some wards on Saturday.

Chief Adebayo Ogunedowo, an APC chieftain, who spoke with NAN, said that the APC primary was a big fraud to the people and democracy.

He said that voters were scared of being lynched or injured because of the breakout of violence at some wards in the state.

“Supporters of some aspirants refused to come here with directives from their principal.

“The primary election is a big fraud, a slap to residents of Ondo State and a shame to democracy.

“This is an indictment on Gov. Ododo-led APC Primary Election Committee except the whole election is cancelled in the state,” he said.

Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State and 15 other aspirants are jostling to pick the party’s ticket ahead of the Nov. 16 governorship election in the state. (NAN)