- By Demola Atobaba, Ado-Ekiti
Attention of Governor Biodun Oyebanji, has been called to the primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State to intervene in order to ensure free and fair primary in the state.
The call was made in a letter written to the governor and APC leaders in the state by Adedayo Adewumi, counsel to chairmanship aspirants on the platform of APC in Ekiti South East Local Council Development Area (LCDA.
The aspirants are Agboola Oluwafemi, Omojola Oluwagbohunmi, Oladipo Babalola Peter, Ogundana Sikiru Sunday and Oyewole Stella Omolade.
He said the letter came about after the current chairman of Ekiti South East Local Council Development Area was reported to be boasting around that the governor has already endorsed her for continuity despite the belief by his client that the governor hates imposition.
Mr. Adewumi pointed out that it was because the primary election that produced the governor was free and fair that made the pre-election matter of Kayode Ojo to be given a befitting burial at the Federal High Court to the Apex Court in Nigeria.
He said his clients are not fighting any aspirant but that the LCDA is unique because there are many communities there and that no community should be cheated because they have equal rights to the chairmanship and no individual should see the office as a birth right.
He pointed out that the APC lost the last House of Assembly election to Social Democratic Party (SDP) because of imposition and that such a thing should not be allowed to happen to the party again in Ekiti State.
The letter reads:”The performance of the governor speaks volumes. No wonder leaders of opposition have already endorsed your Excellency for second term; it has never happened in the political history of Ekiti State. Our clients say bravo to your Excellency and pray to God Almighty to give you more Solomonic wisdom to do more.
“Our clients whole-heartedly appreciate your Excellency for finding time out of no time as a result of tight schedules to go through the contents of this letter as you accede to the humble request”.
The aspirants later spoke to our correspondent, restating their opposition to imposition and called for a level playing field.
In his comment, Hon. Oladipo Babalola Peter, from Ward 11, Ikun Oba Ekiti, a former councillor who is in the race for the chairmanship, alleged that the incumbent LCDA boss is parading herself as the sole candidate whereas there are six aspirants in the race.
Also speaking, Hon. Oyewole Stella Omolade, an aspirant from Ward 4, said the imposition story being bandied around ought not be so because there are many communities in the LCDA and the chairmanship position should go round turn by turn.
In his own reaction, Rt.Hon. Ogundana Sikiru Sunday from Ward 2 and former chairman of Ekiti East Local Government, appealed to APC leaders to look into the matter, pointing out that if consensus candidate cannot be agreed upon, the primary election should be conducted among the six contestants.
He revealed that in 2021 he stepped down for her from the race before due to the appeal from our great leaders, pointing out that it is part of politics.
Agboola Emmanuel Oluwafemi, former Supervisor from Ward 10, said following the alleged claim by the incumbent LCDA chairman the she had need adopted as the sole candidate, they wrote a letter to the governor and party leaders and that till date there has been no response to that letter.
He said the race should be thrown open and that if the incumbent performed well the result of the election will show it.
Omojola Oluwagbohunmi from Ward 11, a former Council Assistant to the governor under Fayemi, said it is undemocratic tendency to impose a candidate in any election, even though he did not believe that governor could do such a thing.
He said if there is a free and fair primary election, he is confident of victory.
