Residents and various politicians in the Ibarapa region of Oyo state have canceled the APC primary election that was meant to be held in the Ibarapa region on Friday, after it was discovered that one of the aspirants, Hon Saubana Muraina, purportedly sent fake delegates’ list.
Crisis ensued after both the aspirants and the local government party chairmen demanded to know the names of persons on the delegate list, after which the electoral officials declined.
According to report, the crisis led to the aspirants and party chairmen resolving that no voting will commence except the officials paste the names of the delegates.
An eyewitness said the misunderstanding led to electoral officials forcing their ways outside of the proposed venue, where they met fierce resistance and violence from the supporters.
Meanwhile, one of the APC Youth leaders explained that, “The alleged irregularity was exposed after the APC members demanded to see and cross-check the names of delegates sent and those that came to vote, which led to a fierce resistance from Muraina and other Party leaders.
“The consequence of this was that the primary election was canceled at both the Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North Constituency”, he added.
Policemen and party chieftains were later seen pursuing the alleged fake delegates, seizing the bus which they came with and other confidential documents.
Delegates were said to have been kept waiting in Igboora hall till about 7:30 p.m.
“No presence of INEC returning officer/Ad-hoc staff nor officials of APC state representative except the presence of errand people from Hon Saubana Muraina”, a delegate who claimed anonymity said.