Seven of the Ekiti State governorship aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, have withdrawn from the party’s primary holding today.
The aspirants are former Minister of Works, Dayo Adeyeye; Senator Opeyemi Bamidele; Afolabi Oluwasola; Kayode Ojo; Demola Popoola; Femi Bamisile and Bamidele Faparusi.
In a statement, they complained that the lists of local government election committee and ward election committee were made up party members and political appointees that had openly endorsed the candidacy of Biodun Oyebanji, the immediate past secretary to the state government.
They called for the replacement of members of the committees with neutral ones to ensure credibility of the process.
The statement reads: “The seven aspirants herein received with rude shock and dismay the purported list of local government election committee and ward election committee made up solely by party members and political appointees that had before now openly endorsed the candidacy of Biodun Oyebanji the immediate past secretary to the state government.
“It is on record that the government of Governor Kayode Fayemi has given its unwavering support to the candidacy of Biodun Oyebanji, it is common knowledge that the Governor and most appointees of the governor are openly rooting for and supporting Biodun Oyebanji’s aspiration to become the flag bearer of our great party.
“What is more disturbing is the fact that a simple glance at the names of the persons appointed as members of both committees would reveal that it is made up of appointees of government who are all supporters of a candidate in the primary election they are appointed to superintend on.
“The seven candidates herein are loyal, faithful and committed party members who are sincerely concerned about the chances of the party in the forthcoming 2022 governorship election where an imposition is allowed to override a democratic primary election for determining its flag bearer.
“We request that both the local government election committee and ward election committee that were constituted on the list already in circulation be disbanded and replaced with names that would reinforce internal democracy and uphold the aims and objectives of the party.”
