The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has sent a clear message to National Assembly hopefuls: an “endorsement” is not a free pass to the finish line.
The party’s State Working Committee directed all aspirants on Monday to hit the field and prove their political worth. 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.
Fayemi said, “Any serious aspirant must be ready to face a primary by relying on their performance to speak for them.” He further stressed that sticking strictly to the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act is the only way to shield the APC from messy, post-primary lawsuits.
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.
The directive is crystal clear: “Our leaders have spoken Let every aspirant go to the field and test their 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.
