Kamarudeen Ogundele, Ado Ekiti
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has said the party will deploy every available resources to win the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti State.
Describing the election as a ‘must-win’ for the party, he promised that the APC would conduct a free, fair and credible primary to choose its candidate.
The state Chairman of the party, Chief Jide Awe, who had taken cover outside the state since Governor Ayodele Fayose assumed office, made a surprise appearance at the event on Monday.
The state government has obtained a bench warrant against Awe over his alleged complicity in the death of one Mrs. Juliana Adewumi and Ayo Jeje, who were killed in Erinjiyan on May 30, 2014 during the administration of Dr. Kayode Fayemi.
Odigie-Oyegun said the delegates’ list that would be used to conduct the primary had been compiled, promising to make copies available to eligible aspirants.
The former Edo State governor added that the party was not oblivious of the importance of the Ekiti election in the history of politics in Nigeria.
He said,“We will work hard to ensure that Ekiti returns to the progressives’ fold. Though, we are in power at the centre, but that doesn’t mean we should not work hard.
“President Muhammadu Buhari as you know him will not rig or compromise or subvert the will of the electorate, so we must work hard to deserve the victory that will come to us.”
Odigie-Oyegun spoke in Ado Ekiti on Monday during the commencement of the party’s continuous registration, at the APC secretariat in the Ajilosun area of the capital city.
Later, Odigie-Oyegun moved to the Eagles Civic Centre along Ado-Ikere Road where he addressed the party faithful on the seven points agenda set for the National Working Committee by the Ekiti APC members to make the primary a success.
Odigie-Oyegun was received by party chieftains, including the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Segun Oni, and members of the State Working Committee.
Other aspirants at the event were Senator Gbenga Aluko, Senator Ayo Arise, Wole Oluyede, Wole Oluleye, Capt. Sunday Adebomi (retd.), Bimbo Daramola, Dr. Mojisola Yaya-Kolade, Victor Kolade, Mr. Kola Alabi, Mr. Diran Adesua, Dr. Bayo Oriire and Femi Bamisile.
Opeyemi Bamidele, Senator Babafemi Ojudu and Bamidele Faparusi sent representatives.
Addressing the party members, Odigie-Oyegun dispelled the rumour of an alleged plot to impose a particular candidate on the party.
“We have listened to your demands and we also want to tell you that we expect something from you too while giving you assurances that there will be no imposition and that the primary shall be free, fair and credible.
“To all the aspirants, you must not campaign as if there won’t be tomorrow. Don’t campaign in a way that breeds enmity. I learnt that you are above 30, but the large number shouldn’t be a source of discord.
“Let me say this clearly, anybody who wants to fly the flag of our party must maintain decorum. But we shall be fair to you as much as possible because there can’t be peace when justice is denied. We must not also have bad losers; you must work with whoever the electorate pick as their candidate.”
Odigie-Oyegun appealed to the aspirants to ensure that there was no division before and after the primary.
He said members of the State Working Committee would not be allowed to campaign for any of the aspirants.
Odigie-Oyegun added, “We must know that Ekiti is facing one of the most important elections in our history. God has put the victory on our laps, He has put it in our hands and we must not lose it.
“We at the national headquarters have decided that this election is one that we will work hard, leave no stone unturned, because to us it is a must-win election,” he stated.
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