The All Progressives Congress (APC) said yesterday that with the conclusion of its governorship primary in Ekiti State, the party was ready to reclaim the mandate that was stolen from the Ekiti people in 2015 for the overall development of the state.
Speaking while receiving the report of the Appeals Committee on the Ekiti primary election, its National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso, said the party was happy with the outcome of the primary, especially since none of the aspirants complained about the process.
Izunaso said all efforts were currently geared towards winning the July 14 Ekiti election. He disclosed that the party’s National Campaign Committee for the election will soon be set up.
He charged voters in Ekiti to come out enmasse to reclaim their stolen mandate by voting for the APC candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, come July.
Izunaso: “We are glad that you have finished your assignment after sitting for three days and there is no petition from any aspirant, both orally and in writing. We are also glad that the Ekiti primary election has taken place and that the aspirants are working together to ensure that we win the election.
“The most important thing to us in the APC is victory in the July 14 governorship election. For us in the APC, whenever there is a primary election, it is a family affair. And whenever we finish our primary elections, and aspirants and stakeholders come together to work as a team, it gladdens our heart as a party.
“I am aware that very soon we will set up the National Campaign Committee for the election and also have another meeting with the aspirants to properly integrate them into what we are doing, because ultimately victory is our end result and we believe that by the special grace of God, the people of Ekiti will regain the mandate that they gave to APC four years ago, that was stolen. This is another opportunity for Ekiti people to regain that mandate. And this time around, it will no longer be stolen by anybody.
“Once Ekiti people come out enmasse and vote for the APC, we will defend our result and ensure that we reclaim what truly belongs to us. Right now, it is only Ekiti State that is not in the APC fold in the Southwest. That shows that the Southwest is for the APC and we should as much as possible try to encourage our voters in Ekiti State to come out enmasse and vote for our party.”
After submitting the report, Chairman of the Appeal Committee, Amb. Fati Balla, said no petition was received on the primary election conducted in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, last Saturday.
Balla said the three-member Appeal Committee which was inaugurated on May 2, sat for three days after last Saturday’s primary. The appeal committee include: Capt. Bala Jibrin (Secretary) and Mrs. Lilian Obenwa.
The chairman said: “In the three days that we (committee) sat, we did not receive a single petition, either in form of writing, telephone call or a text message; which means there was no petition after the governorship primary. We have come before you this afternoon to submit the report. Since there is no petition from Ekiti State, therefore the committee has wound up this afternoon.”