All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Kayode Ojo, has got provisional clearance to participate at the primary.
The provisional clearance followed his failure to secure the mandatory five nominators per local government.
The Screening Committee chaired by Tola Olawuyi forwarded his case to the National Working Committee (NWC) for final ‘judgment.
Party members at the grassroots have urged the national leadership to disqualify him from further participating in the exercise.
The shadow poll scheduled for October 27 is likely to be conducted, based on the direct option. The election is next year.
Four contenders – Governor Biodun Oyebanji, Ojo, an engineer, Olajumoke Abimbola and Omolayo Oluremi – were initially competing for the ticket.
However, a contender, Olajumoke dropped after failing the screening, leaving three in the race.
Oyebanji was “cleared, having satisfied all constitutional and party requirements.”
While Oyebanji and Oluremi were given the nod to prepare for the intra-party contest, Ojo only got provisional clearance. His case is yet to be decided by the NWC.
Abimbola, who is active on the social media, is considered as a starter who cannot pass any popularity test in the chapter.
Two chieftains – Sunday Oladipupo (Igbemo Ward, Irepodun/ Ifelodun Local Government) and Amos Oladipo (Imesi Ward 5, Gbonyi Local Government) – forwarded a petition against her.
Unlike the governor who has been endorsed by the majority of party stalwarts during the statewide endorsement rally in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, and all the 16 local governments, many Ekiti APC leaders have also disputed Ojo’s eligibility for the exercise, alleging that he is not loyal to the platform.
Ojo’s battle cry has not attracted a mass following in the far-flung rural state, where only aspirants who know the language of the communities, and not those who uncritically flaunt wealth, have prospects.
Instructively in Ekiti, unity, identity, group conformity, and trust are built around that cultural aspect of life by the generality of unique people that relishes the virtue of ‘omoluabi.’
A lawyer, Yuletude Oghenekao Ako, stated in the petition to the chairman of the Screening Committee, Tunji Olawuyi, in Abuja on behalf of Oladipupo and Oladipo, that Olajumoke should prove that he is a “registered and financially up-to-date” party member who has the right to vote and be voted for at the primary.
Copies of the petition were sent to the APC national chairman, national secretary and secretary of the screening committee.
The petitioners alleged that while five members from each of the 16 councils should sign her nomination form, only 19 valid members signed, thereby failing to meet the threshold of 80 as expected.
According to them, “except in Ado Local Government with seven nominators,;she also did not satisfy the requirements of five nominators per local government in the remaining 14 local governments as contained in the guidelines.”
