Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti
Some aggrieved senatorial and House of Representatives aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday accused the governor-elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, of plotting to impose his preferred candidates on the party in the ongoing primaries in Ekiti State.
They said the alteration of the direct option earlier announced for Ekiti by Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee to indirect one few hours before yesterday’s primary was allegedly perpetrated by the former Minister in cahoots with the State Working Committee.
The aggrieved aspirants include: Messrs. Bimbo Daramola, Kayode Babade, Yemi Olayinka, Ayo Oshinkolu and Mrs. Olutoyin Ajakaiye.
Addressing journalists in Ado Ekiti on the issue, Daramola, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues accused the state executives of doing the bidding of the governor-elect, to edge them out of the primary under the flimsy excuse of indirect primaries, contrary to the decision of the national secretariat.
Daramola said it was wrong for the state executives to have allowed an individual to teleguide them to have his way and ensured that he imposed his candidates on the party.
“It was bad for the APC that just won the governorship election to be behaving in this manner. We were supposed to be given the opportunity to test our popularity in the primaries, rather than resorting to imposition.
“The Deputy National Chairman, South, Governor-elect and other leaders of our party told us at Iyin-Ekiti, resident of Chief Niyi Adebayo that direct primaries will be used to pick the candidates.
“It was however unfortunate to receive a message on Sunday night that the earlier assurance at the meeting held with all aspirants had changed to indirect primaries.
“We have all been working on the agreement of direct primaries, it therefore became difficult to identify the so-called delegates because we don’t have access to the list, “he said.
Daramola added that the NWC must correct the perceived imbalance in the system to prevent the party from being destroyed by desperation of a few leaders.
