A former member, Kogi State House of Assembly, Nathaniel Ojo Taiwo, has described the April 14 governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a scam.
Speaking with journalists in Lokoja on Sunday, the former lawmaker insisted that the results of the primary election as announced was fraudulent because no election took place anywhere in the state on Friday.
He called on the National Working Committee (NWC) of APC to review the process and all controversies surrounding its primary election in Kogi.
Nathaniel said the Friday 14 April primary meant for the election of APC flag bearer did not hold in almost all the ward across the state and was fraught with irregularities in in few wards where it was allegedly conducted.
He called on the party leadership to investigate complaints coming out from the exercise in the interest of the party, while at the same time appealing to APC members not to take the law into their hands, but explore available options within the party machinery to address their grievances.
Nathaniel recalled that in his Okebukun Ward of Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area, enthusiastic party members were disappointed after enduring long hours and waiting in vain for electoral officers.
He recalled that Senator Smart Adeyemi eventually won in a landslide in the poll conducted in his ward.
He described the result trending in the media awarding victory to former Auditor General for Local Governments, Ahmed Usman Ododo, as a charade.
He insisted that the party must follow due process and take steps to strengthen internal democracy.
“Governor Yahaya Bello is someone I respect so much, having demonstrated so much love and support for Senator Smart Adeyemi in the past. One is however shocked that he along with Governor Matawalle of Zamfara State and Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon supervised the so called Kogi gubernatorial primary election of our party.
“They said it was going to be direct primary, which ordinarily means all registered party members will vote. Later, they started speaking English, talking about financial members. One is at a loss about these things. Why do you do things like this if you have no skeleton in your cupboard?
“With the use of BVAS, things are no longer as usual with our elections. My party needs to address the issues. I appeal to every aggrieved person to follow due process, before jumping to the court,” Nathaniel cautioned.
He urged the NWC of the ruling party to review the primary election in Kogi state and ensure justice is done quickly.
