APC members stage protest over Osun primaries, say can’t sign blank result sheet

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday staged a protest at the Osun State Government House, Osogbo over alleged move by party leadership to manipulate the primary election results in favour of some aspirants.

APC had on Thursday, Friday and Saturday conducted primary elections into the state House and National Assemblies respectively.

The protesters were mostly the delegates in the 31 local government areas of the State.

The delegates who were called to an emergency meeting at the Government House in Osogbo had gathered as early as 8am.

The delegates alleged that they were asked to sign blank results sheets.

This development infuriated about 500 delegates who were in attendance describing the move by the party leadership as undemocratic.

The meeting had in attendance the party leadership led by the State Chairman, Prince Gboyega Famodun, the Senate spokesperson and Director General of Oyetola Campaign Council, Dr Ajibola Basiru, former member of the House of Representatives, Ajibola Famurewa; Special Adviser to Governor Adegboyega Oyetola on Political Affairs, Sunday Akere; among others.

The delegates who refused to sign the documents until they know the names of winner to sign for in the documents, said they suspected foul play.

They maintained that, they cannot sign a blank document as they suspected that the leadership of the party may be trying to manipulate the outcome of the exercise by replacing winners of the primaries.

Moments later, the angry delegates stormed out of the hall in protest. 

One of the delegates from Ila said: “Delegates did not vote. It was direct primaries. Why asking us to sign results sheets? They are thieves. They want to manipulate the results and we will continue to resist that. The choice of the people should be announced. We can’t sign blank results.”

Reacting to the development, Akere denied that they were presented with blank documents to sign.

He said they were only invited to come and ratify the results which some are ready to do but were disturbed by those who perceived their chances were not auspicious in the exercise.