Four gubernatorial aspirants in Ogun State have rejected the All Progressives Congress (APC) delegates list  allegedly prepared by their co-contestant, Governor Dapo Abiodun.

Joined by more than 30 aspirants vying for the party’s tickets for various positions, the guber hopefuls, in a letter to the national leadership of the APC signed by them and sighted by Peoples Gazette accused Mr Abiodun of manipulating the delegates elections to emplace his cronies.

Governorship aspirants Dunni Opayemi, Modele Sarafa-Yusuf, Adekunle Akinlade and Biyi Otegbeye, on behalf of other aspirants, said the governor filtered out and disqualified party members who disagreed with him out of the list.

They alleged that many intending members were denied delegate forms in favour of individuals loyal to the governors’ camp.

The group argued that there could be no justification for the refusal of the Mr Abiodun-controlled party leadership to hand delegates forms to party members after payments have been duly made other than an intention to sideline non-loyalists of the governor. An action which they describe as “unconstitutional, unfair and undemocratic.”

The group also highlighted the wide criticism that followed last year’s local government elections presided over by Mr Abiodun, saying the outcome of that exercise is enough reason to assert that the governor is not able to provide a level-playing field for all aspirants. 

They urged the leadership of the party to appoint an independent mediator to supervise the affairs of the party.

Mr Abiodun has faced strong pushback against his desire to win a second term in office since the details of his criminal past bursted into the limelight.

The governor’s chief press secretary, Kunle Somorin, did not answer The Gazette’s request for comment.