The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has constituted a five-man panel to reconcile aspirants and their supporters, who are still aggrieved by the outcome of the January 27 governorship primary.
The committee chaired by Deputy Governor Bisi Egbeyemi, was raised to ensure unity and cohesion in the party ahead of the June 18 governorship election.
The committee also has two former deputy governors, Chief Abiodun Aluko and Prof. Modupe Adelabu, as members. Other members are Prof. Bolaji Aluko and Bunmi Adelugba, who will serve as the secretary.
This was one of the resolutions reached at a stakeholders’ meeting of the Ekiti APC held on Saturday at the Osuntokun Pavilion of the Government House, Ado-Ekiti, to discuss the last governorship primary and the coming national convention, among other issues.
The raising of the committee is believed to be a step to ensure that the APC approaches the governorship election as a united house and ensure victory for its standard-bearer, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji.
While aspirants like Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, Femi Bamisile and Bamidele Faparusi, have agreed to work for the party, one of them, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, has gone to court to challenge the result of the last primary.
Other aspirants the committee is expected to appease and enlist their support for Oyebanji include Kayode Ojo, an engineer, Otunba Demola Popoola, Mr. Oluwasola Afolabi and their supporters ahead of the main election.
The two-hour meeting was attended by Governor Kayode Fayemi, Otunba Egbeyemi, state APC Chairman Paul Omotoso, House of Assembly Speaker Mr. Funminiyi Afuye, Deputy Speaker Mr. Hakeem Jamiu, National and State Assembly members, governorship standard-bearer Oyebanji, exco members, government functionaries and party leaders from across the local governments.
A 10-point communiqué issued at the end of the meeting said Oyebanji’s thank-you tour was put on hold because of the need to reach out to other aspirants, who vied for the party’s governorship ticket with him.
The communiqué, which said the thank-you tour begins today (Monday) “now that most of the other contestants have been reconciled, expressed satisfaction that the last party primary of January 27 was peaceful.
“It was resolved at the meeting that the unity of APC in Ekiti State is sacrosanct. Party members were encouraged to work together as a team and shun any act that can cause disunity.”
The stakeholders resolved that members should see nothing wrong in people expressing grievances, but pointed out that such grievances must not be allowed to tear or destroy the party.
Speaking about the constitution of the Egbeyemi-led Peace Panel “to woo and reconcile aggrieved aspirants and their followers within the party,” the meeting resolved that “this will be replicated at the local government and ward levels.”
The communiqué said further: “That the glory of the Ekiti State governorship primary was attributed to sportsmanship of the aspirants, especially those who have openly accepted the result and pledged to support the candidature of the standard-bearer.
“That the coming election is not about Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, but about the good of our people and Ekiti State in general. Therefore, party members must see the coming election as their personal project and all hands must be on deck.
“That the performance of the incumbent, Governor Fayemi, is the impetus for the party’s campaign while marketing the party’s candidate, Oyebanji, for the election, with a promise to continue the good work of Governor Fayemi.
“That the party stakeholders should see the ongoing voters’ registration exercise as an opportunity to boost the voters’ strength of their communities. As a party, the APC will also do the needful to encourage and motivate people to register.
“The forum noticed the alarming rate of uncollected voter’s cards and enjoin those who have yet to collect their PVC to go to the INEC office and collect them. Registration without collection of PVC is a fruitless exercise.
“Going forward, party faithful are enjoined to show more commitment to party activities, especially at the ward level. Regular weekly ward meetings must be observed to propagate the good work of Governor Fayemi and the prospect of Oyebanji at the forthcoming governorship election.”
The state APC Chairman, Omotosho, who delivered the opening address, thanked party faithful for their loyalty and dedication, especially on the successful governorship primaries of January 27. He encouraged stakeholders and party faithful in general to work in unison in the overall best interest of the party.
Other speakers at the forum, including Governor Fayemi, also talked about the primaries, the national convention, coming Ekiti State governorship election and the way forward to strengthen the APC in Ekiti to surmount known and unknown hurdles.