Hundreds of members of the All Progressives Congress on Thursday turned out at Tube Ward in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State to participate in the governorship primary election, where aspirant, Abayomi Hunye, voted and later addressed journalists amid claims and counter claims within the party.
The exercise, which was conducted under a calm atmosphere at the ward level, recorded early arrival of Hunye, who cast his vote before other party members and supporters joined in the process.
Speaking shortly after voting, Hunye dismissed reports circulating within the party suggesting that he had been disqualified or not cleared to contest in the governorship primaries, describing such claims as false and politically motivated.
He maintained that the large turnout of supporters at his polling unit was a reflection of his acceptance across the state and a sign of growing confidence in his aspiration within the party structure.
According to him, attempts to spread misinformation about his eligibility did not deter his supporters, who still came out in large numbers to participate in the process.
Reports from some other wards in Ipokia Local Government Area, however, alleged that supporters believed to be loyal to Hunye were prevented from accessing voting centres, a development that raised concerns among party stakeholders.
Despite the allegations, Hunye insisted that the voting process in his own ward was peaceful and orderly, adding that even those perceived to support rival aspirants were allowed to participate without interference.
He appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, to ensure that all votes cast during the primaries are properly counted and that the process is not influenced by bias or manipulation.
The aspirant also urged party leaders to protect internal democracy and prevent what he described as enemies of democracy from undermining the credibility of the exercise.
He reaffirmed his commitment to the race, urging supporters and the general public to disregard rumours suggesting otherwise.
Meanwhile, the campaign office of Hunye raised fresh concerns over the arrest of one of his supporters, Mr Segun Avoseh, during the APC governorship primary held at Maun Ward 1 in Ipokia Local Government Area.
In a statement signed by the Abayomi Hunye Campaign Office, it was alleged that Avoseh, a card-carrying member of the APC and party agent, was arrested after resisting alleged attempts to stop supporters of Hunye from participating in the exercise.
The statement further claimed that officers at a police station reportedly stated they only recognised Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola as the sole governorship aspirant, a development the campaign described as disturbing.
Senator Adeola is one of the prominent figures in the Ogun APC governorship race, alongside other aspirants jostling for the party’s ticket ahead of the next general election.
The campaign described the incident as a threat to fairness, neutrality, and democratic participation within the party, calling on the Ogun State Commissioner of Police to investigate the circumstances surrounding the arrest.
It also demanded the immediate release of Avoseh if found to have committed no offence, as well as equal treatment of supporters of all aspirants and protection of the integrity of the primary election process.
