2018: APC Leaders, meet aspirants on peaceful primary, post primary

The Southwest zonal leaders of the All Progressives Congress(APC), on Thursday met with all gubernatorial aspirants for the July 14, election in a bid to ensure free, fair, peaceful primary and post primary election in the state.

This became necessary in view of the large number of aspirants vying for governorship in Ekiti State chapter of the APC which has become a serious concern to the party.

The National Vice Chairman (Southwest) of the party, Chief Pius Akinyelure, said the APC will engage the aspirants in a constructive engagement before the May 5 primary to persuade some of them to step down to ensure stability.

As at the time of filing this story, the party has 29 aspirants that have procured the expression of

interest and nomination forms at the APC’s Secretariat in Abuja.

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who had indicated interest was represented at the meeting by Alaba Bejide.

But former governor Segun Oni, Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Political Matters, Babafemi Ojudu, Senator Gbenga Aluko, Opeyemi Bamidele , Bimbo Daramola, Bamidele Faparusi, Dr. Mojisola Yaya Kolade, Femi Bamisile, Sunday Adebomi, Bayo Orire and other aspirants present.

Speaking at the stakeholders’ meeting in Ado Ekiti, Akinyelure, said the party will conduct free, fair and transparent primary that can’t be subjected to litigation in the state.

Based on allegation that a particular aspirant and a Governor of one of the neighbouring states were allegedly planning to import what they called “fictitious delegates”, Akinyelu dispelled the accusation, saying such should not be contemplated under an advanced democracy.

He said: “Through our deliberations, we realized that what we have now is a crowd of about 30 aspirants on our platform. This you will agree with me is unacceptable as this could affect our chances of effecting needed change in the governance of your dear state.

“We are however conscious of the fact that every member has the right to aspire to the exalted seat of the governor of the state provided they meet the required qualifications listed for the position.

“Between now and the date of election, just go and visit the delegates and canvass for votes in the most civil and legal way.

“However, we are not particularly pleased with the reported cases of character assassination, abuses and destructive language being traded by some of the aspirants against each other. This had become very prevalent in the social media. This is not acceptable at all”, he said.

Akinyelure said all the aspirants will be availed of the delegates’ in due course, which they can use to authenticate the ones that will be used for the conduct of the primary.

“We have met and we have agreed that the state executive should develop a paper for all aspirants which they will sign to show that they will be ready to support whoever emerges.

“To maintain fairness, we have asked the aspirants to draw out a format of how the primary should be, which I know will be free, fair and credible”.

On the possibility of asking some aspirants to step down before the primary, Akinyelure added: “We are coming up with a screening committee which will begin work on April 24. We will do everything to persuade them to bring down the numbers.

“We are going to engage them and persuade them on the need to save our party from crisis”, he stated.