Ekiti APC Governorship Primary: Seven Aspirants Pick Nomination Form

By Ayodele Oni

Nineteen days to the Governorship Primary election of the All Progressive Congress, (APC) in Ekiti state (APC), seven aspirants are confirmed to have picked nomination forms.

The Primary election is expected to come up January 20.

The seven aspirants, that cut across the three Senatorial Districts of the State, paid the mandatory N22 million to the coffers of the party in Abuja.

They are Demola Popoola, Kayode Ojo, Biodun Oyebanji, Adedayo Adeyeye, Bamisile Olufemi, Opeyemi Bamidele and Bamidele Faparusi.

The break down shows that One is from Ekiti North Senatorial district, Ekiti Central and Southern Senatorial Districts have three each.

Investigations revealed that various towns in the State are  agog as the aspirants meet with the people, especially party delegates, that are expected to vote at the primary.

Social media platforms are not spared as they are awash with pictures of the aspirants, while trying to outplay each other.

There are indications that the party may still adopt indirect option for the conduct of its primary due to the refusal of President Mohamadu Buhari to sign the Amended Electoral Act.

Incumbent Governor Kayode Fayemi, whose second term in office  terminates on October 16, is from the North Senatorial District.

Some Agitators, mainly from the Southern part of the State, have been clamouring for power shift to the zone, which has not produced a Governor, 25 years after the creation of the state.

The Coordinator of the Group, Idowu Afuye has warned politicians from the South not to accept to play second fiddle to any aspirants from other zones.

Also, legal luminary, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, has blamed politicians from the zone for its inability to produce Governor since the creation of the state, urging them to close ranks.

Some of the aspirants have expressed the hope that Governor Fayemi will live up to his claim that he has no annoited one among them by being impartial during the primary election.

Members of the ruling APC have alleged that one of the aspirants, Biodun Oyebanji, who resigned as secretary to the State Government, is the Governor’s annoited candidate.