21st February, 2022
By Idowu Gabriel
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti has set up a committee to reconcile all the governorship aspirants and their followers who were aggrieved with the outcome of the just-concluded party primary in the state.
This is contained in a communiqué issued by the drafting committee Chairman, Mr Segun Dipe, and made available to newsmen on Sunday in Ado-Ekiti.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committee, which is to be replicated at both local government and ward levels, is headed by the Deputy Governor, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi.
This was stated in the communique issued after the APC stakeholders’ meeting, held at Oshuntokun Pavilion, Government House, Ado-Ekiti.
The meeting was conveyed to discuss the issues bordering on the party in state, the outcome of the governorship primary, the forthcoming national convention of the party and the June 18 governorship election in the state, among others.
The communique noted that the governorship primary, held on Jan. 27, was peaceful and without any bloodletting.
It also stated that the unity of APC in the state is sacrosanct even as it encouraged party members to work together as a team and shun any act that could cause disunity.
The stakeholders urged members not to see anything wrong in people expressing their grievances, adding, however, that this must not be allowed to destroy the party.
“The glory of the governorship primary was attributed to sportsmanship of all the aspirants, especially those who have openly accepted the result and pledged to support the candidacy of the flag bearer,” the communique stated.
It further said that the forthcoming election was not about Mr Biodun Oyebanji, the APC standard bearer, but about the good of the state and Ekiti in general.
The communiqué, therefore, enjoined party members to see the forthcoming governorship election as their personal project, saying that all hands must be on deck.
The stakeholders also lauded Gov. Kayode Fayemi’s performance, saying that his leadership style was enough for the party to campaign with, for the general election.
The stakeholders urged members to see the ongoing voter registration exercise as an opportunity to boost the voting strength of their different communities.
They, therefore, enjoined party members to show more commitment to party activities, especially at the ward level and propagate Oyebanji’s project at every forum.
The communiqué added that the proposed “thank you tour” by Oyebanji, which was put on hold to enable him reach out to other aspirants, would commence from Feb. 21, now that most of them had been reconciled.
Present at the stakeholders meeting were: Gov. Kayode Fayemi, a former Deputy Governor, Mr Abiodun Aluko, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr Funminiyi Afuye, Deputy Speaker, Alh. Hakeem Jamiu and the state APC Chairman, Mr Paul Omotoso.
Others were: South-West APC Public Relations Officer, Mr Oladapo Karonwi, members of Ekiti Council of Elders, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Biodun Omoleye, state and federal lawmakers, cabinet members, Oyebanji and party members from the 16 council areas.