Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, has denied endorsing any aspirant ahead of the forthcoming National Assembly primary elections, even as a House of Representatives hopeful, Victor Olumuyiwa Kolade, has protested the alleged arrest and intimidation of some of his supporters.
Kolade, who is contesting to represent Ekiti Central Federal Constituency I comprising Irepodun/Ifelodun, Ekiti West and Efon local governments, had alleged that six of his supporters in Ipole-Iloro were invited and detained by members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) over claims that they disobeyed “party supremacy.”
The lawyer and APC aspirant described the development as undemocratic, insisting that supporting a preferred aspirant within the same political party was not a criminal offence.
According to him, the supporters were allegedly compelled to swear affidavits undertaking not to act against the interest of the party, a development he said raised concerns about intimidation ahead of the primary election.
Kolade further alleged that some political actors had been going round the constituency claiming to enjoy the backing of Governor Biodun Oyebanji and the APC leadership, maintaining that attempts to intimidate aspirants and their supporters could create unnecessary tension within the party.
Reacting to the allegations, the APC Publicity Secretary in Ekiti State, Segun Dipe, dismissed claims that the party or the state government had endorsed any aspirant for the National Assembly elections.
Dipe said the APC remained committed to internal democracy and would ensure a free, fair and transparent primary election for all contestants.
“Our party has not taken any position regarding the candidacy of anyone. We are a democratic party and everybody has the right to support whoever they like, but the party itself has no preferred aspirant,” he said.
He added that the recently concluded screening exercise for aspirants was one of the fairest conducted by the party, stressing that no aspirant was disqualified.
The APC spokesman also said Governor Oyebanji had never directed anyone to announce preferred candidates on his behalf.
