Money laundering: In a bid to further shield Yahaya Bello, Ododo may boycott Ondo APC primary – Sources

There are fresh indications that Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State, might not turn up in Ondo State for today’s governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as promised.

While Ododo was appointed to head the seven-man Primary Election Committee set up to conduct the shadow poll in all 18 local government areas of the state, while a former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, was chosen as his secretary.

Other members include a former Oyo Deputy Governor, Iyiola Oladokun; Senator Lekan Mustapha, Adefunmilayo Tejuoso, Margaret Duru, and Dr Sani Danjuma.

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The Kogi governor was, however, absent from Friday’s oath-taking ceremony, which took place at the party’s national secretariat.

Defending his principal, Ododo’s deputy, Salifu Oyibo, attributed his absence to ‘security challenges’.

But, a source in the newly inaugurated primary committee, who preferred not to be mentioned, said “Ododo is not coming. Did you sincerely expect him to leave Kogi to monitor an election at a critical period when the EFCC is seeking to apprehend his mentor and predecessor? Who does that?

“Even the party knows that the promise of being in Ondo is not feasible. I am sure a last-minute arrangement is being made. Otherwise, Omo-Agege may take charge of proceeding today.”

Meanwhile, a former National Vice Chairman of the APC, Salihu Usman, has called for Ododo’s suspension by the party’s leadership.

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This call comes in response to allegations that the governor shielded his predecessor from the scrutiny of the EFCC.

Speaking in an interview on Arise TV on Friday, Usman described Ododo’s action as an impeachable offense.

He stressed the need for accountability, stating that Bello must face the allegations against him.

He said, “In a simple allegation of corruption against him, he (Yahaya Bello) is running away. As a party, we must tell him that he has a duty to go and answer to the charges being levied against him.

“It is even more scandalous, and it raises a bigger moral burden when our governor who succeeded (former) governor Yahaya Bello is shielding him and blocking him from being answerable to law enforcement agencies.

“As far as I am concerned, if proven, that constitutes an impeachable offense. I think our party should have made a pronouncement to suspend the governor from the party until this thing is brought under control.”