The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has said no fewer than 171, 922 delegates would elect its candidate for the September governorship election in Ondo State.
The delegates are members of the APC drawn from the 203 wards in the 18 local government areas of the state and duly certified to take part in this Saturday’s APC governorship primary election.
National Organizing Secretary of the party, Alhaji Muhammad Argungu, disclosed this on Thursday at the national secretariat of the party where its National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje inaugurated the 7-member Governorship Primary Election Committee for the state.
He said while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) sent the certified true copy of 173, 181 membership register to the party, a revalidation done by the party brought the figure down to 171, 922.
He said; “All the 16 aspirants who purchased nomination and expression of interest forms had been vetted as provided for in the APC constitution.
“It was done to comply with the provisions of the Constitution and to ensure that all the aspirants were duly vetted for the primaries.
“The aspirants had consequently been screened by the party’s screening committee for the Ondo election.
“We have received a Certified True Copy CTC from INEC showing 173,181 membership while our revalidation came down to 171, 922”.
Inaugurating the committee, Ganduje said after the completion of its work, the appeal committee had a duty to listen to complaints and attend to them.
“If there is any disagreement, then the appeal committee will listen and that is part of internal democracy which we have to abide by as provided by our constitution.
“Members of this committee have been selected based on their experiences and integrity.
“The primary election committee is chaired by no other person by our new governor of Kogi state, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo”, he stated.
Ganduje who noted that controversies were an integral part of democracy, urged the primary election committee to be focused and highly organized in discharging its mandate.
He said; “Controversy is a whole department in a democracy and you cannot have a 100 percent peaceful exercise but you are equal to the task. I expect you to be focused, to be highly organized and to be vigilant.
“We have contacted relevant stakeholders including security agencies and they have assured of a peaceful environment”.
Responding, Ododo who was represented by his deputy, Joel Salihu, expressed his commitment to the task ahead.
He said; “If there is any job not to be done, it must not be the one sent by Mr President and the National Chairman of the party and the party itself. Any work I am sent to do must be done.
“I have accepted to collaborate with all the committee members to produce the best candidate for Ondo gubernatorial election and in so doing I will abide by the principle, doctrine and constitution of our great party”.
