There was tension at the Ondo State Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akure on Sunday evening as suspected political thugs disrupted the announcement of the remaining results of the House of Representatives primaries conducted across the nine federal constituencies in the state on Saturday.
It was earlier gathered that the Primary Election Committee announced winners in three federal constituencies on Saturday night. Hon. Omowunmi Olatunji emerged winner of the Akure South/Akure North Federal Constituency primary with 9,237 votes, while Dr. Olumuyiwa Daramola secured the APC ticket for Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency after polling 6,547 votes.
Also declared winner was the incumbent lawmaker representing Ondo East/Ondo West Federal Constituency, Dr. Abiola Makinde, who garnered 10,847 votes
However, results from six federal constituencies, including Akoko North East/North West, Akoko South East/South West, Owo/Ose, Idanre/Ifedore, Ilaje/Ese-Odo and Odigbo/Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo, were yet to be officially announced.
It was gathered that the whereabouts of members of the primary election committee remained unknown since Saturday night, creating uncertainty over the delayed declaration of the outstanding results.
The situation later took a dramatic turn around 7:00pm on Sunday when the Chairman of the National Assembly Election Committee, Hon. Iboroma Harry Dabibi, alongside other committee members, arrived at the APC Secretariat to continue the announcement process.
Eyewitnesses said the exercise was abruptly interrupted when one of the disqualified aspirants from Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency allegedly stormed the venue with suspected thugs in an attempt to halt the proceedings.
Sources at the Secretariat disclosed that the aspirant reportedly handed over his mobile phone to the APC State Chairman, Hon. Babatunde Kolawole, to speak with a caller said to be a highly influential female commissioner in the state government.
The caller was alleged to have directed the party leadership to suspend the announcement of the remaining results pending the resolution of issues surrounding the screening of some aspirants in Owo/Ose and Idanre/Ifedore federal constituencies.
The atmosphere at the party secretariat reportedly became rowdy shortly after the phone conversation, forcing committee members, journalists and party officials to flee the conference hall for safety despite the presence of security operatives at the venue.
Members of the election committee were heard expressing fears over their safety, insisting they could not continue the announcement under such tense conditions. They subsequently left the Secretariat and returned to their hotel rooms.
Journalists and other persons present at the venue also hurriedly left the area to avoid possible attacks.
As of the time of filing this report, the APC had yet to officially announce the results of the six remaining federal constituencies.
Sunshinetruth
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