Direct primaries to hold where consensus fails, Ekiti APC tells aspirants

The All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State has said that endorsement does not preclude any aspirant from testing his or her weight with party members in a fair and transparent process.

The party on Monday evening directed the aspirants for National Assembly positions to go to the field and test their political weight, saying, “Where consensus doesn’t work, then the direct primary option will certainly be the option, as provided for in our Constitution.”

APC State Publicity Secretary, Segun Dipe, in a statement in Ado Ekiti reiterated the party’s commitment to the positions of Governor Biodun Oyebanji and former governors Kayode Fayemi, Segun Oni and Adeniyi Adebayo, on National Assembly aspirations.

There have been rumours of endorsement of one aspirant or the other as preferred candidates of the leaders, thus foreclosing direct primaries.

Fayemi had at an Ekiti APC stakeholders’ meeting on Saturday urged party members to disregard such rumours of endorsement, saying there could not be consensus where a person is in disagreement.

Fayemi had wondered why any elective office seeker, particularly some sitting National Assembly members from the state, could be afraid of facing other contenders in a primary election, but seeking consensus to get the party’s return ticket.

The former governor had said, “Any serious aspirant must be ready to face a primary election by relying on their performance to speak for them”, stressing the need for adherence to the party constitution, principles, and electoral act to guard against unnecessary litigations after primaries.

Fayemi had urged all aspirants, especially the current elective office holders, to be ready to tell the people their achievements before relying on endorsements.

The APC, while saying it was in support of the stance of Oyebanji, Fayemi, Oni and Adebayo on the primaries for National Assembly positions, stressed that “while endorsements may come from some quarters, and it is politically recognised, it does not preclude any aspirant from testing his or her weight with party members in a fair and transparent process, as stipulated in Article 20 of the APC Constitution.”

Dipe stated, “Governor Oyebanji has maintained that he remains neutral, and no aspirant has been endorsed by him. Fayemi has also downplayed claims of endorsements, urging aspirants to focus on winning the hearts of the party members.

“Segun Oni and Adebayo have echoed similar sentiments, stressing the importance of respecting the party’s democratic processes.

“The APC in Ekiti State is committed to upholding the principles of internal democracy, as outlined in our Constitution, and ensuring that all aspirants have an equal opportunity to contest.

“While we do not rule out the possibility of a true consensus, we urge all contestants to respect the party’s constitution and guidelines, and to refrain from misrepresenting the positions of our leaders.

“Our leaders have spoken: Let every aspirant go to the field and test his/her political weight. Where consensus doesn’t work, then the direct primary option will certainly be the option, as provided for in our Constitution,” the APC stated.