APC senatorial primaries peaceful across Ogun as Abiodun dismisses allegation of violence

The All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primaries held across the three senatorial districts of Ogun State on Monday were conducted peacefully, orderly and without any reported incident, contrary to earlier insinuations by one of the aspirants over alleged planned violence.

As early as 8:00 a.m., party members trooped out in large numbers to the designated collation centres across the 236 wards in the state to cast their votes for candidates of their choice in an atmosphere described by observers as calm and well-coordinated.

In Ogun East Senatorial District, Governor Dapo Abiodun emerged victorious as the sole contestant after his rival, Senator Gbenga Daniel, stepped down from the race a few hours before the exercise, citing perceived hostility — a claim many party members and voters dismissed as unfounded.

At several wards visited across the district, party faithful were seen openly queueing behind Governor Abiodun in affirmation of his candidacy, while electoral officials conducted the exercise peacefully.

A similar atmosphere played out in Ogun Central Senatorial District, where Senator Shuaib Salisu emerged as the consensus candidate. APC members were seen queueing in front of his posters across various voting centres monitored during the exercise.

In Ogun West, the same orderly process was witnessed as Hon. Jimoh Olusola Odugbele coasted to victory amid massive support from party members.

The election also went peacefully in Remo North Local Government Area, with party leaders and members applauding the orderly conduct of the exercise across the council area.

Across the LGA, voters turned out massively for the primary elections held at the various ward secretariats. Reports gathered from the field indicated that Governor Abiodun maintained a commanding lead with overwhelming margins, while Senator Daniel trailed distantly.

Declaring the result in Ward 9, Ode Remo, the Presiding Officer, Mr. Opeyemi Odunsi, announced that Governor Abiodun polled 1,116 votes, while Senator Daniel recorded zero vote.

Similarly, in Ward 10, Governor Abiodun secured 714 votes as against Senator Daniel’s zero vote. The result was announced by Oladipupo Ogunsanya.

In Ward 2, Isara, Governor Abiodun polled 532 votes, while Senator Daniel again recorded zero vote. The result was declared by the Presiding Officer, Yusuf Asenuga.

Speaking after participating in the primary election at Ward 3, Iperu, in Ikenne Local Government Area, Governor Abiodun dismissed insinuations of planned attacks or violence during the exercise.

The governor, who secured 810 votes out of the 812 accredited party members in his ward, said the exercise across the state had remained peaceful, transparent and credible.

“I want to debunk the perception some people are trying to create. Someone claimed that he withdrew from the race because of perceived or planned violence.

“We had an election here on Saturday. Even though it started a bit late, I monitored the exercise across the 236 wards in the state and the 103 wards in Ogun East.

“I did not hear that anybody stepped on anyone’s toes. The process was free, fair, and transparent. It was an election, not an affirmation. In an affirmation, people simply say yes or no, but here, people voted, results were collated, and winners were announced,” he said.

Abiodun maintained that there was nothing unusual about aspirants stepping down from contests, describing such decisions as noble and voluntary.

“This morning, I received text messages from aspirants in Ogun West saying they were no longer contesting. Last night, I also received multiple messages from aspirants in Ogun Central stepping down for another aspirant, and none of them claimed it was because of perceived or planned violence.

“So, if an aspirant in Ogun East steps down, we will clap for him, applaud him, and consider it a noble gesture.

“But for him to begin to mischaracterise the situation by claiming he stepped down because of planned violence is very disturbing,” he added.

The governor further stated that the prevailing peace across the state during the primaries reflected the stability his administration has sustained over the years.

“Normally, around this period in Ogun State, there would have been a total breakdown of law and order. The centre would not hold anymore, and people would be harassed left, right, and centre, perhaps because they were not towing the line of one person or another.

“Today, everybody in Ogun State is going about their normal activities peacefully,” he stated.

Recalling his political experience, the governor noted that he contested and won the 2019 governorship primary through the direct primary system despite the turbulence that characterised the process at the time.

“Today, seven years into my tenure as governor, I am once again presenting myself to serve my people in the Red Chamber,” he added.

He also appreciated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, the media and party members for ensuring a peaceful and successful exercise across the state.

Speaking while announcing the result at Ward 3, APC representative, Prince Waheed Adedotun, disclosed that out of the 837 registered party members in the ward, 812 were accredited, while Governor Abiodun polled 810 votes.

He added that no other candidate was represented at the exercise as all voters queued behind the governor.