An aspirant in the ongoing All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries in Ondo State, Olumuyiwa Adu, has alleged widespread intimidation, gun-wielding political thugs, and the imposition of preferred candidates by the state leadership, declaring that no genuine primary election took place.
In his interview with the Treasurenews correspondents after the exercise, Adu painted a grim picture of what he described as a deeply flawed and violent process, claiming that armed young men openly brandished weapons and threatened party members at voting centres.
According to him, the disturbing trend did not begin with the latest primary but had also occurred during an earlier exercise held a few days ago.
“The point is that there has been a lot of primary elections going on in Ondo State. We had one a few days ago, and we witnessed young men brandishing guns and threatening everyone that among the three of us contesting, there was only one person they wanted anyone to vote for,” he said.
Adu said the events he witnessed convinced him that the exercise could not be regarded as a legitimate democratic process.
“Obviously, I concluded that there was no primary election, and today, again, we saw the same thing,” he stated.
The APC chieftain alleged that the armed individuals claimed they were acting under the instructions of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, whom they said had directed them not to allow supporters of certain aspirants into the voting areas.
According to Adu, the governor had allegedly already identified and publicly announced preferred “consensus candidates,” making the primaries merely ceremonial.
“They said they were acting on the governor’s instruction—that supporters of aspirants whose names he did not read out should not be allowed into the polling areas. Only those he had listed as consensus candidates were to emerge,” he alleged.
Despite what he described as deliberate provocation, Adu said he and his supporters deliberately chose restraint to avoid bloodshed, even though they had the capacity to resist.
“I have been in the military. We know the boys, and we have the resources to bring them out. But what will it profit me if, at the end of the day, lives are lost?” he said.
“He does not have the monopoly of violence. But as a mature person who understands leadership and management, I cannot allow my actions to plunge the state into chaos.”
Adu accused the governor of fostering division and instability within the APC and across Ondo State, saying the state is now deeply fragmented.
“There is no peace in the state. There is no love in the state,” he lamented.
“As far as I am concerned, APC is a party built on love and unity. In the interest of our president, who wants the welfare of everybody, we are holding our peace. We will not retaliate. We will not confront the governor.”
He reminded party members that many leaders and stakeholders worked tirelessly to ensure Governor Aiyedatiwa’s electoral victory and warned that those same political forces could destabilize his administration if they chose to respond in kind.
“We put him there. He did not elect himself. We worked to ensure that he won the election. Many people outside have said it was because of us that he got into power.”
“We know what to do. We can also mobilize and turn this place upside down, but we will not be childish or feeble-minded enough to wage war against him the way he has allowed guns to dominate the political space.”
Adu further claimed that supporters of other aspirants were deliberately barred from participating in the process, making the exercise fundamentally undemocratic.
“The supporters of other contestants were not allowed anywhere near the voting areas. So for me to say there was a primary election—no, there was none.”
He also questioned the electoral viability of the candidates allegedly imposed by the governor, warning that they may struggle to secure victory for the APC in the general elections.
“The truth is, those he has elected by force cannot win elections in Ondo State for APC. They cannot. There are better candidates in other parties, and the people are angry.”
While insisting he has no intention of sabotaging the party, Adu warned that growing public frustration could have consequences for the APC’s electoral fortunes.
“I’m not saying we will work against them, but even if we don’t, the people outside are very, very angry. The state is currently burning, and we are saying this so that the whole world can hear.”
Adu maintained that his political ambition was motivated by a desire to serve the people rather than personal gain, stressing that he remains professionally fulfilled outside politics.
“I don’t lose anything. I’m not a politician who depends on politics to survive. I came in only to help the people.”
He concluded with a sharp rebuke of the state’s leadership, questioning its legitimacy and public support.
“For you to call yourself a leader of that status, when the whole state is fragmented and there is no peace—you cannot even gather 200 people in this state. That should tell you everything.
