■Akeredolu clinches party’s ticket ■Police, Civil Defence in shootout
Stories from Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
GOVERNORSHIP aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State yesterday ganged up against the anointed candidate of the National Leader of the party, Senator Bola Tinubu, Dr Segun Abraham, during the party’s governorship primary election.
Abraham who was endorsed by Tinubu and the embattled chairman of the party in the state, Isaac Kekemeke did not show up at the International Events Centre (Dome), Akure, venue of the election.
Other aspirants of the party including Chief Olusola Oke, Prof. Ajayi Boroffice, Mr Jamiu Ekungba, Prince Boye Oyewumi, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), Chief Tayo Alasoadura, Mrs Jumoke Anifowose and Hon Bode Ayorinde were at the venue mobilizing delegates ahead of the poll.
It was gathered that the aspirants at the venue of the election agreed to work against the interest of Tinubu and allegedly directed delegates in their camps to vote for a particular aspirant.
The peaceful conduct of the exercise was almost disrupted when police officers and officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) exchanged gunshots after a clash between them. The clash, Sunday Sun gathered en- sued between a police officer and an NSCDC officer after the latter prevented a man already passed by the former from entering the venue of the election. The situation was however calmed down when some military personnel intervened.
Chairman of the primary election committee and Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, described the exercise as a peaceful and successful one, noting that delegates comported themselves well all through the exercise.
He lauded the aspirants for ensuring that peace reigned in the party and the state during the exercise, stressing that the election supervised by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was free, fair, transparent and credible.
Accreditation of delegates had earlier taken place at three different locations in Akure with delegates from eachsenatorialdistrictusing each of the centres.
Delegates from the six local government areas that constitute Ondo Central senatorial district were accredited at the Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Arcade, Igbatoro Road, while those from Ondo South were accredited at the SB Multipurpose Hall, Ondo Road in Akure.
Over 2,000 policemen led by a Deputy Inspector General of Police from Abuja and other security agents monitored the exercise where over 3,000 delegates from the 18 local government areas of the state participated.
Akeredolu wins
FORMER President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Oluwarotimi Akeredolu yesterday emerged the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State.
Akeredolu polled 669 votes to defeat Dr Segun Abraham, the annointed candidate of the APC National Leader, Sena- tor Bola Tinubu, who got 635 votes. Twenty five aspirants contested the election.
Chairman of the Ondo State Governorship Primary Election Committee and Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar Badaru who announced the results about 11.20pm declared Akeredolu as the governorship candidate of the party, having polled the highest number of votes.
The keenly contested election was conducted under the supervision of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies.
The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2012 election, Chief Olusola Oke came third in the primary, while Senator Ajayi Boroffice came fourth.