•Party rakes in N720m from forms sales
Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has settled for direct primary to elect the standard bearer of the party in the April 20 Ondo governorship primary election.
The ruling party informed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of its decision to adopt direct primary mode of election in a letter signed by the National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, and National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru.
The Deputy National Organising Secretary, Hon. Nze Duru, confirmed the decision of the party to adopt direct mode of primary.
“We are using the direct primary mode of election for Ondo State governorship primary election.
“This decision has equally been conveyed in a letter duly signed by the National Chairman and the National Secretary to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the party has adopted direct mode of election for Ondo State governorship election,” he said.
Meanwhile, the ruling party has realised the sum of N720 million from sales of Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for the Ondo State governorship ticket.
The sale of forms which commenced on Wednesday March 27, closed yesterday April 3, 2024.
At the close of sales, 16 aspirants had picked the forms ahead of the governorship primary election to elect the APC standard bearer for the November 2024 Ondo State governorship election.
THISDAY checks revealed that all the aspirants but two were male. The female aspirants included Funmilayo Adekojo and Mrs Funke Omogoroye Judith.
The ruling party raked in N720 million from 14 male aspirants, who picked the forms for N50 million each and two female contenders who paid N10 million each for the expression of interest forms.
Female aspirants and Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs) were exempted from paying the N40 million nomination forms.
Governor Lucky Ayiedatiwa and fifteen others picked the expression of interest and nomination forms to contest the party’s primary election later this month.
