Ekiti APC primary: Fayemi threatens to sue party

The Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation has threatened to sue the All Progressives Congress (APC) if the results of the inconclusive Ekiti governorship primary  election is outrightly annulled by party top hierarchy.

The campaign outfit belongs to the Minister of Mines and Steel Development and APC governorship aspirant in the state, Dr Kayode Fayemi.

The primary election held at the Oluyemi Kayode stadium in Ado Ekiti on Saturday was disrupted midway by suspected thugs owing to alleged fraudulent practices that they claimed dogged the exercise.

Some agents working for other aspirants had accused Fayemi of colliding with some security agencies and members of the Governor Tanko Al-Makura-led APC primary Committee to skew the outcome in favour of the Minister.

Addressing journalists in Ado Ekiti yesterday, Fyemi’s agent in the primary, Mr Samuel Abejide, said five local governments had voted before the uprising that led to abrupt suspension of the exercise, saying the results of were valid in the face of the Law and Electoral Acts.

He said the elections in Ekiti East, Moba, Ilejemeje, Ado and Ijero local governments had been concluded when the poll was disrupted.

Other delegates, who expressed their intentions to sue the party at the press conference included: Dada Sunday Ebenezer, Emmanuel Adekunle and Jimoh Azees.

They said the party owed it a duty to protect the rights of the party members, saying their voting right should not be an exemption in this case.

Abejide also accused the security agencies of compromise, wondering why the perpetrators of the destruction should be allowed scot-free in the presence of more than 200 combined forces of security agents.

Fayemi’s agent denied the allegation that the committee apportioned more than required number of agents to the former governor ahead of other contestants, saying this was not possible under the structures put in place at the venue.

“We believe the process of election was free, fair and credible and that is why the results should be sustained.

“If they knew that they were leading, why should they ask for cancellation?”

Lending credence to the position canvassed by Abejide, Jimoh posited that it will be tantamount to abridgement of rights for the poll to be annulled.

“I am a delegate in APC and I voted during the election. The process in those mentioned local governments were free and fair, so I don’t expect the party to annul it.

“Though, should the party go ahead and do that, I will not hesitate to go to court to seek redress”, he stated.