How Outcome Of APC Presidential Primary Will Affect Ekiti Gov Election

By Ayodele Oni

With the Presidential primary of the ruling All Progressive Congress, (APC) concluded and the victory pendulum tilted to Bola Tinubu, National Leader of the Party, the next focus now is the Ekiti state Governorship election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) has fixed 18th June for the poll with 16 political parties cleared to contest.

The first litmus test of the APC Presidential flagbearer will be how to consolidate his victory by delivering Ekiti state for his party come June 18.

With the way the Presidential primary went, especially the last minute realignment among the aspirants which saw Governor Kayode Fayemi stepping down to pave the way for Tinubu’s emergence, there is no doubt that this will reflect in the Ekiti poll.

Before the Presidential Primary, supporters of Tinubu in the State, under the name South West Agenda(SWAGA) being led by Senator Dayo Adeyeye were in the camp of the candidate of the Social Democratic Party, (SDP) and former Governor of the state, Chief Segun Oni.

Adeyeye, though still claims to be a member of the APC, and  Chief campaigner for Tinubu for President, parted ways with Fayemi and his Government following the way he was removed from the National Assembly.

He had won election to represent Ekiti South at the green chamber three years ago. He was even inaugurated as a member of the 8th assembly untill his removal by the Court of Appeals, which gave his victory to his opponent in the election, Senator Biodun Olujinmi.

Dayo Adeyeye believed Governor Fayemi had a hand in his defeat at the court and had since surreptitiously pulled out his supporters from the APC.

He was being touted as a running mate to the SDP candidate after he lost out in the APC Governorship primary, but concentrated his efforts on the Tinubu project.

With Tinubu’s victory, a realignment of forces within the next few days before the election is imminent, as already members of SWAGA who are divided and scattered in the SDP and African Democratic Congress, (ADC) are expected to return to their root, which is APC to ensure the victory of its candidate, Abiodun Oyebanji in June 18.

Tinubu was earlier fingered to be among the financiers of the SDP candidate in the state. It was even being rumoured that one of the plan B for Tinubu was his possible defection to SDP if he lost out in the APC primary.

Even the Presidential bid of Dr Fayemi, made the APC national leader to distance himself from the politics of Ekiti state to the extent that aspirants that sought his support before the primary were given cold treatment by Tinubu.

But another trend to the issue is that Prince Adeyeye seems not to be in a hurry to forgive Fayemi, going by his statement released immediately after the national convention.

He is still embittered and wants to ensure that he truncates the victory of the APC Governorship candidate in the state.

Hear him,  “It has been brought to the notice of Senator Adedayo Adeyeye about the fake news spreading around about the endorsement of one Abayomi Oyebanji for Governor.

“While the news should not have been given utmost priority, it becomes imperative to make it clear to the people of Ekiti State that the information is false and that it was generated from the pit of hell.

“Therefore it should be disregarded and thrown into the dustbin of irrelevance.

“The good and conscious people of Ekiti State will recollect that in an attempt to ensure we reposition the South West Agenda SWAGA’23 for the task ahead, Senator Adedayo Adeyeye was removed from the Senate just because of his passion, love and support for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“I wish to inform all Ekiti Indigenes that Adeyeye’s victimisation was to ensure some selfish and devil sent politicians perpetually put Ekiti State into bondage.

“Hopefully, the victory of our Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will rework the ethics of the party and ensure sustainability of rule of law.

“I, therefore, plead to all Ekiti SWAGA members to continually keep the spirit alive, remain focused, dedicated and resolute till the mandate for a new Ekiti is delivered.

“We have not for a day forgotten the wicked and draconic act of those who daily worked against the interest of the party in Edo State, went out of the party hierarchy to do that which pleases them for selfish reasons.

“The members of Ekiti SWAGA are not unaware of the drastic position taken to humiliate, victimize and oppress their activities before, during and after Ekiti Governorship primaries like they are not members of the APC long before now. Why now the call on SWAGA?

“The mandate for a new Ekiti is non negotiable as negotiating Ekiti for political relevance is like negotiating the future of our unborn kids which I will not be part of.

“It is our collective responsibility to protect the Heritage that binds Us together and that will be our guiding principles for the prosperous future of generations coming behind.

“Conclusively, the freedom of Ekiti is long overdue, and I can assure you all that it is not negotiable and will never be negotiated.”

It was signed by one Yomi Abegunde, Director of media and Publicity on behalf of Adeyeye.

Even with this, political observers in Ekiti still believe that with Tinubu as a candidate, his supporters will have no choice than to return to APC fold and work for the victory of the party’s candidate.