Ekiti APC In Make-Or-Break Guber Primary POLITICS

 

 

 By KUNLE ODEREMI

 
KUNLE ODEREMI X-rays the seemingly charged atmosphere pervading the ranks of All Progressives (APC) Congress faithful in Ekiti State as the party elects a governorship candidate for the June 2022 election in the state.

The stage is set for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to determine its candidate for the June 18 governorship poll in Ekiti State. The process that will throw up the standard-bearer has been variously dubbed as the make-or-break primary, due to the tensed atmosphere created by accusations and counter-accusations by the main political gladiators, power brokers and other categories of APC stakeholders. The verbal exchanges between the party members sympathetic to the establishment and those alleging a plot to manipulate the exercise has raised fundamental questions on integrity and level-playing field, as well as the role of the APC national secretariat in Abuja that is meant to oversee the conduct of the primary.

The mutual distrust and suspicion among the interested parties heightened on Monday when some stakeholders of Ekiti South senatorial district under the auspices of Ekiti Concerned Citizens’ Group (ECCG) complained against an alleged move by the authorities to renege on a said 2018 accord on power shift to the Ekiti Central in 2022. Similarly, a contender for the APC ticket warned that the party might lose the election proper if it fails to allow a level-playing field at the primary. A member of the House of Representatives and aspirant, Honourable Femi Bamisile said the party should forget winning the poll, if it picks its candidate outside the southern senatorial district. He alleged that the decision of the governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi to anoint an aspirant outside the zone was a breach of an agreement he had with the southern zone during electioneering in 2018. Bamisile is a former speaker of the state House of Assembly.  So as the delegates launch the countdown to the expiration of the tenure of Governor Fayemi, the APC electorate will factor in the crisis over the process, claims and counter-claims of perceived betrayal and conspiracy; pedigree of the contenders for the ticket; perceived presidential bid of the governor as well as the role of external forces.

The contenders for the APC ticket include Bamidele Faparusi; former Secretary to the State Government, Biodun Oyebanji; aviation expert, Demola Popoola; Senator Opeyemi Bamidele; Olusola Afolabi,a former Minister of Works, Senator Dayo Adeyeye; Representatives Femi Bamisile; former House Representatives member, Kayode Ojo;, They all come with varying pedigree and credentials covering vast areas of professionalism.

One of the contestants and former Commissioner for Public Utilities, Faparusi, recently called for a transparent and credible process. He tasked Governor Fayemi on the need to be neutral and allow the best candidate to emerge. The state chairman of the APC Mr Paul Omotosho, was however, quoted to have reassured of a free and fair contest. He said the leadership of party would be neutral in the process. On his part, Senator Bamidele cautioned against a repeat of the 2014 episode. He warned against any attempt to strain the relationship between him and the governor.  “They squandered relationship between me and my brother (Governor Fayemi). God said we are not enemies, and we took over Ekiti again. The third party will go to governor’s office in 2014 and said what I did not say,” he said.

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There are speculations about Governor Fayemi joining the presidential race. According to some party chieftains, he will need to consolidate his grip on the state to shore up his chances if he elects to run. And one of the ways to achieve this is to install a successor as governor of the state. This factor is said to be the major cause of the schism between his supporters and the Senator Anthony Adeniyi-led Ekiti Stakeholders Forum members. The members also comprise Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Senator  Adeyeye, Honourable Bimbo Daramola, Adewale Omirin.

 

Who wears the crown?

Femi Bamisile:


 
He is a former Speaker of the State House of Assembly and current member  representing Ekiti South Federal Constituency II in the House of Representatives.  Described as a great grassroots politician, he is throwing his heart into the ring for the second time. He is from Ekiti South senatorial district demanding power shift to the area.

 

Kayode Ojo:

He is a professional engineer. He is seeking another attempt at grabbing the governorship ticket of the party. He was believed to have had a very impressive electioneering about four years ago. He is also said to possess the necessary war chest apart from having a relatively large following among the youth and young politicians.

 


Hon Bamidele Faparusi:

He is the hitherto Commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utilities. He is believed to have put up a stellar performance in that ministry having banked on his professional background as an engineer. .He hails from the Ekiti Southern Senatorial District. He ran for governorship in 2018.  Many believe the APC’s chances at the election was lost in June 2014, due to Bamidele’s decision to dump the APC for Labour Party (LP), on which platform he contested against Fayemi. Bamidele got just 18, 135 votes while Fayemi received 120, 433. Then, Fayose won with 203, 090 votes. In 2018, they all teamed up to regain power.

 

Dayo Adeyeye:

He hails from South senatorial district and is a former Publicity Secretary of the Afenifere and later spokesperson for the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He has a vast experience and network of friends and associates across board. He has been the chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) under the administration of Governor Segun Oni; minister under  former President Goodluck Jonathan and as a senator. He is a leader of SWAGA, a group championing the emergence of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s presidency in the South-West.

 

Opeyemi Bamidele:

The current senator representing Ekiti Central senatorial district in the National Assembly, Opeyemi Bamidele is a leading figure in pro-democracy and human rights groups, including NADECO.. Before his election into the National Assembly to serve in the Senate in 2019, he had served in the House of Representatives, representing Ekiti Federal Constituency I. He had previously served as a Special Adviser and later Commissioner in two administrations in Lagos State. An experienced and grassroots politician, the Iyin-Ekiti-born lawyer/politician is making the second bid at becoming governor of the state.

 


Abiodun Oyebanji:

According to reports, Oyebanji was a member and later Secretary of the Committee for the creation of Ekiti State. He was also the Secretary, Ekiti Development Fund.  He has served in the government of Ekiti in different capacities He was appointed Secretary to the State Government (SSG) during Fayemi’s second term before he resigned in December 2021 to join the governorship race. He is perceived as the anointed candidate of the government.
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