The rerun of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State on Sunday recorded a low turnout in some wards.

Governor Usman Ododo-led APC primary election committee had declared the exercise held on Saturday in the 203 wards in 18 local government areas of the state inconclusive.

In a statement in the early hours of Sunday in Akure, Mr Ododo said reports reaching the committee indicated that the electoral process in 13 wards in Okitipupa LGA suffered some hitches.

Accordingly, the governor declared the governorship primary inconclusive and directed that a rerun be held in the 13 wards in Okitipupa LGA, which have a total validated registered membership of 9,515.

A correspondent who monitored the rerun in some wards in Okitipupa reports a low turnout of voters and security agents compared to the large voter turnout on Saturday.

The wards visited are Okitipupa Ward 1 at Stella Maris College, Okitipupa, Ward 2 at St. John Primary School, Ayeka/Igbodigo ward and Ikoya/Igbinsin/Oloto ward in Ikoya, all in Okitipupa LGA.

As of the time of this report, no officials, APC committee members, or election materials were in sight at the wards.

Adebayo Ogunedowo, an APC chieftain who spoke with journalists, said that the APC primary was a big fraud to the people and democracy.

He said voters are scared of being lynched or injured because of the breakout of violence at some wards in the state.

“Supporters of some aspirants refused to come here with directives from their principal.

“The primary election is a big fraud. A slap to residents of Ondo State and a shame to democracy.

“This is an indictment on Governor Ododo-led APC primary election committee, except the whole election is cancelled in the state,” he said.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State and 15 other aspirants are jostling to pick the party’s ticket ahead of the November 16 governorship election.

(NAN)