By Paul Joseph
A fresh crisis has erupted within the Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following protests by a group of party youths over the conduct of the party’s primary election, with demonstrators accusing the party’s national leadership of attempting to subvert the will of members.
The protesters alleged that the outcome of the primary had been manipulated despite what they described as overwhelming support for their preferred aspirant during the exercise.
Addressing journalists during the protest, one of the youth leaders claimed that party members had voted massively during the primary, insisting that the result reflected the wishes of APC members in the state.
“Most of our members voted en masse during the primary, and the result reflected the will, wishes and mandate of the people. Suddenly, we started hearing rumours and speculations that names were being altered by one professor. We reject any attempt to change the outcome of the exercise,” the protest leader said.
The demonstrators also directed their anger at the APC National Chairman Nentawe Yelwatda, accusing him of working against President Bola Tinubu’s political interests ahead of future elections.
“We don’t know who our national chairman is working for. Is he working for the opposition, his brother Atiku Abubakar, to defeat our candidate and the President from the South?” the protest leader alleged.
They warned that any attempt to impose a candidate against the wishes of party members could trigger avoidable tension within the APC in Ondo State.
Describing the South-West as the political stronghold of President Tinubu, the protesters argued that internal disputes arising from the primary could weaken the party’s electoral fortunes in the region if not urgently addressed.
The youths further likened the situation to a “democratic coup” and called on the APC National Working Committee to uphold the integrity of the primary process.
They also invoked the historical “Operation Wetie” crisis in the old Western Region, warning against actions capable of destabilising the state.
“If anyone wants to disrupt the peace of Ondo State by creating a crisis within our party, let it be on record that the people will resist. Nobody has defeated the army of the people in history,” the protest leader declared.
The protest adds to growing concerns over post-primary disputes within political parties as preparations for forthcoming elections continue.
The APC national leadership had not issued an official response to the allegations raised by the protesters, while there was no evidence presented publicly by the demonstrators to substantiate their claims that the National Chairman was supporting former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
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