The All Progressives Congress Chairman in Ekiti State, Paul Omotoso, has assured National Assembly aspirants in the party of free, fair and credible primary, assuring that the exercises would be conducted in line with the party’s constitution and guidelines.
Omotoso, who said some aspirants had expressed fears or alleged doctoring of the delegates’ list, said, “We are investigating all these allegations. But let me say that the authentic delegates’ list will be released from Abuja.
“Only APC National in Abuja can release it to us. The state has no such power. I can assure everybody of free and fair exercise”.
The APC chairman spoke in reaction to calls by a House of Representatives aspirant, Sunday Ola (Ado/Irepodun/Ifelodun Federal Constituency) on the party leadership to check the development and a senatorial, Dr Olusegun Osinkolu (Ekiti North) to ensure free and fair exercise.
Ola, who at a press conference in Ado Ekiti raised objection to alleged doctoring of the delegates’ list for the conduct of the party’s primary, threatened that such undemocratic conduct would be resisted through every legitimate means.
The House of Representatives aspirant said, “We are calling on the Senator Abdullahi Adamu-led National Working Committee to intervene and call these people to order. How can you change the goal post in the middle of the game? We are not expecting anything short of free, fair and credible primary”.
Also Osinkolu who advised the party in the state that it would have no reason to subvert the will of the people, lamented that the party had before now found it difficult to get good representatives in Ekiti North Senatorial District, owing to alleged imposition of candidates and poor decision by delegates.
He advised the delegates in the senatorial district not to gamble with their votes and future in the May 27 Senatorial primary as he advised the delegates, “Let me tell you that you should not be afraid of anyone. This is a secret ballot system and you must vote your conscience, so that you won’t regret later.
“In the past, primaries had not been free and fair since the powers that be didn’t want fee and fair. But I am happy that the Electoral Act has mandated it and they can only do otherwise if they want to jeopardize the chances of APC”, Osinkolu said.
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