Ekiti Gov Poll: APC Clarifies Status Of Candidate, Sure Of Victory

By Ayodele Oni

Supporters of the  Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, were early Thursday jolted by social media reports that his emergence as the candidate of the party in Saturday’s poll has been nullified by a Court order.

The report had it that a High Court in Abuja has declared his victory at the APC primary election held in January as null and void.

The report, coming less than 72 hours to the election, according to investigation, threw APC members in the State into a state of confusion, which made them to seek clarifications from the Party’s leadership.

Oyebanji is one of the leading candidates in the election.

In its reaction, the State chapter of the APC stated that  Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, remains its Governorship candidate in Saturday’s election.

“There were reports earlier  in the day that a Court in Abuja had “nullified the Ekiti APC Governorship Primary, 72 hours to Guber Poll.”

A release by its State Publicity Secretary, Segun Dipe,  said “although there were some Court cases after the emergence of Oyebanji as the party’s candidate , none  had gone beyond the preliminary stage as all have been transferred back to Ekiti State.”

He, therefore, asked all and sundry to disregard the report  describing it as the forlorn wish of some desperate politicians in the state, which cannot come to pass.

“While we do not expect anyone to take such mindless and baseless rumour serious, we however owe the public the duty of care and assurance that they should disregard the rumour, which is farthest from the truth.

“Yes, there were some cases filed by some disgruntled elements regarding the governorship primaries we organized in January this year, which saw to the emergence of Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, BAO as the candidate of our party.

“None has gone beyond the  preliminary stage and all of them have been transferred back to Ekiti for hearing.

“No High Court is sitting on any matter regarding our primary in Abuja as at today.

“Furthermore, every matter relating to the primary has been adjourned till September this year.

“To the best of our knowledge, none is up for hearing at the moment. The only one perhaps, is in the wildest imagination of our detractors, which cannot see the light of day.

“Our party remains focused on the coming election and sure of untainted victory at the end.

“APC therefore calls on all electorate in the state to remain calm and unshaken in their resolve to ensure that their adored candidate, BAO, and adored party, APC coast home to victory come Saturday, 18 June, 2022.”