Ekiti Guber: APC Adopts Direct Primary; Election To Hold Thursday

By Ayodele Oni

From all indications, the All Progressive Congress, (APC) in Ekiti state has adopted Direct Primary to pick its Governorship flagbearer in June election.

This  became noticeable as Aspirants on the platform of the party changed their campaign strategy in the past few days with visits to each of the 177 wards.

The practice, before, is for them to invite wards and Local Government Executives to the Council Headquarters as well as few party leaders from where they distribute money and some palliatives to them.

Two of the aspirants, Dayo Adeyeye and Opeyemi Bamidele had canvassed for adoption of Direct Primary to enable party members opportunity to choose a candidate that will be acceptable to all.

It was learnt that only those with membership registration slips and valid voters card will be accredited and allowed to vote in the primary, which will take place at the various voting centres located at the wards.

Other criteria for voting include being a registered member of the party; name appears on the Register of Members of the Party; physical presence, not by prox at the point of registration.

On the voting day, the following procedures are to be followed  “Voting shall take place at the respective recognised Ward Voting Centers as may be designated by the Local Government Election Committee.

“The Committee shall be at liberty to have Two (2) accredited agents, Candidates or their agents may bring their posters as identification to the venue of the primary but there shall be no canvassing for votes at the election venue. Voting shall be done in line with the modified Open-Secret Ballot System (Option A4) literally known as Direct Primaries.

“Accreditation shall be done by the Returning Officer between the hours of 8:00am to 12noon. Any member, candidate or agent who arrives after the commencement of voting shall not be accredited or allowed to vote.

“Accreditation of members for voting shall be by APC membership registration  slip and the Returning Officer/Polling officers shall apply indelible ink to the cuticle of the left thumb on the left hand of the voter after voting.

“At 12:00 p.m. or whenever accreditation ends, the Returning Officer shall: declare accreditation closed, but ensure that all eligible members already on the queue for accreditation by 12.00 p.m. are accredited.

“Count the number of accredited voters in the Register of Members and enter the figures into the APC official result sheet.

Voting shall commence immediately accreditation ends and continue till 2.00 pm or

two hours after the accreditation to end casting of votes. Voters shall queue up behind the poster, agent of his/her preferred candidates at the voting center.

“No member shall vote for more than one aspirant and where the votes cast exceed the number of accredited voters, the election shall be declared void by the Ward Electoral/Returning Officer on behalf of the Electoral Committee and the exercise may be repeated.

“After counting the votes, the results shall be publicly announced and the scores of the candidates properly entered both in words and figures on the APC official result sheet. Any result not recorded on the official result sheet shall not be accepted.”

The Governorship primary election is expected to hold on Thursday with eight aspirants participating.

There are three Aspirants from the central and south senatorial districts each and two from the north, the base of incumbent Governor Kayode Fayemi.