Ekiti Guber: PDP, APC, Set To Elect Flagbearers Amidst Protests

By Ayodele Oni

Allegations and counter allegations precede the Gubernatorial Primary Election of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) in Ekiti state which holds Wednesday in the state capital.

Some delegates arrived Ado Ekiti, Tuesday evening,  and were immediately camped at secret locations known only to their preferred aspirants.

About 1,256 delegates, made up of Executives from Wards to State, as well as past political office holders, are expected to participate in the primary election of the PDP with five aspirants slugging it out during the exercise.

The All Progressive Congress, (APC) on its part has opted for direct primary to be held at the 177 wards in the state on Thursday, to elect one out of eight aspirants that are jostling for the party’s flag.

Already, there is tension following allegation that some members of the party have been targeted for arrest on the eve of the Primary to prevent them from voting and mobilizing for their preferred aspirants.

One of the aspirants has raised an alarm over the circulation of fake membership register in the State urging the National Election Committee to look into this.

Senator Dayo Adeyeye has called on all his supporters and the general public to ignore the purported list of All Progressives Congress, (APC) Validated Membership Register in circulation on social media.

However, Adeyeye,  in a statement by his campaign Media Director, Mr. Oluwayomi Abegunde, on Tuesday, urged the people of the state to ignore the list. Mr. Abegunde added that Adeyeye will resist any attempt to inflate the figures.

“How can a Local Government like Ikere, one of the most populated Local Governments in the State have 3,996 and a Local Government like Oye will have 16,881 registered members. That’s not real, it’s fake.

“The purported list is a move to undermine people’s confidence to vote for a candidate they believe will deliver for the party in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state.

“We will resist any attempt to inflate the figures, everybody should go out with their membership slip, only those who are accredited will be permitted to vote.

“People should come out in numbers to exercise their right without any fear of intimidation or oppression, there’s going to be adequate security across the election centres.

“We are also aware that people are printing membership cards, that is an effort in futility. We will resist every attempt to rig  the primary election on Thursday.”

The State Police Command has, however, assured that adequate security has been put in place to check any breach of law.

Not less than 170,000 members are expected to participate in the exercise to elect a flagbearer for the June Governorship election on the State.

The APC Election Committee is headed by Governor Badaru Abubakar with Mr Victor Olabimtan as secretary, while the Appeal Committee has Tijani Musa Tumsah as Chairman, and Hadiza Bala Usman will serve as Secretary.