The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-west on Friday met with the party’s governorship aspirants in Ekiti state to ensure a free, fair and transparent governorship primary election in the state.
The meeting held at the old State House, Marina Lagos where 28 governorship aspirants attended, the leaders resolved to work with the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) as observers during the primaries.
The party leadership in the zone urged the NWC to send credible people from Abuja to conduct the primaries already fixed for May 5th.
According to Ahmed Tinubu, “What I admire about them is that we called them and they answered our call. They all asked for a free, fair and transparent process and that is what we are committed to doing. The leadership is determined to respect that wish. There would be no interference, no collusion with any of them. But we told them they must all maintain the peace. And once we all recognise our roles and play the roles, we will all move forward,”
Also speaking, Chief Bisi Akande said, “We are non-partisan; we are out to create a level-playing field. Whoever emerges at the end of the day is our candidate”.
The aspirants requested that the National secretariat of the party sent non-partisan team to conduct the primary election, citing Anambra governorship primaries which was allegedly trailed by fraud.
One of the governorship aspirants, Chief Dele Okeya who was mandated to speak on behalf of the aspirants, described the meeting as fruitful.
“We all resolved that the primary election in Ekiti would be credible, fair and transparent. We are happy our leaders gave the undertaking that the primaries would be transparent. The leaders pledged to come to Ekiti to ensure that the process is transparent and hitch-free. They also resolved to come after the primaries to ensure we remain cohesive and we have an all-inclusive APC going into the governorship election,” he said.
Among the leaders that attended the meeting were APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; former Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande; National Vice-Chairman, South-West, Chief Pius Akinyelure; former Ogun State governor, Chief Segun Osoba; his former Ekiti State counterpart, Otunba Niyi Adebayo; Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, and Ekiti State Chairman of the party, Chief Jide Awe.
Among the governorship aspirants at the meeting were Senator Babafemi Ojodu, Mr. Kayode Fayemi, Hon. Bimbo Daramola, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, Hon. Femi Bamisile, Mr. Bamidele Faparusi, Hon. Bayo Idowu, Chief Sesan Fatoba, Chief Bisi Aloba, Dr. Adebayo Orire, Dr. Femi Thomas and Dr. Wole Oluyede.
Chief Segun Oni and Senator Ayo Arise, who both agreed with the resolutions reached at the meeting, arrived shortly after the meeting had ended owing to flight delay from Abuja.
