As the aspirants await the official results of the House of Representatives primaries conducted on Saturday by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), women recorded a stronger presence than their male counterparts in the exercise.
Though the exercise commenced far behind schedule, there were reports of pockets of violence and brigandage in some wards across the state.
The security presence was heavy, particularly in areas like Ado-Ekiti, the State Capital, reports Sunday Independent.
For example, violence broke out in ward ten as supporters of rival aspirants engaged in a show of strength.
In the areas visited across the six constituencies in Ekiti State, female members of the APC turned out in higher numbers, actively engaging in the nomination processes.
The primary was peaceful in areas like Ire-Ekiti. However, there were allegations of violence and disruption of the processes in Ikere, Ikole and Ilawe-Ekiti.
In some areas visited in Ado-Ekiti, Ikere, Ise, Agbado, Ijero and Aramoko. Women not only dominated attendance but also showed greater organisation and coordination during the primaries.
Stakeholders attributed the development to increased advocacy for women’s political inclusion, as well as sustained grassroots mobilisation by women’s groups and civil society organisations.
It is believed that the growing awareness of gender equity and the push for more representation have begun to yield tangible results.
A party official described the turnout as “encouraging,” adding that women demonstrated strong commitment to shaping the outcome of the primaries.
In their joint statement, two APC aspirants, Senator Biodun Olujimi and Hon. Engr. Bamidele Faparusi, expressed disappointment over the conduct of the APC House of Representatives primary election held across Ekiti South.
They also canvassed immediate release of ward result sheets for proper verification as well as open and transparent collation centres accessible to all aspirants and their agents.
The Frontline contenders also called for strong assurances of a credible and transparent senatorial primary from the party to avert any action that could create a cleavage in the party fold.
“We, Senator Biodun Olujimi and Hon. Engr. Bamidele Faparusi, express our disappointment over the conduct of the APC House of Representatives primary election held across Ekiti South.
“These developments undermine the credibility and transparency of the process and fall short of democratic standards expected within our great party, the All Progressives Congress.
“We call for an urgent stakeholders’ meeting with the NWC Election Committee, immediate release of ward result sheets for proper verification, open and transparent collation centres accessible to all aspirants and their agents, and srong assurances of a credible and transparent senatorial primary election.”
Another APC aspirant for Ado Ekiti/Irepodun-Ifelodun Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Pastor Yemi Olayinka, declared that his camp has defeated intimidation by participating in the National Assembly primary election.
Speaking with journalists at ward 8 in Ado-Ekiti, Olayinka said threats and intimidation targeted at his supporters failed to stop them from turning out for the election.
According to him, the turnout of his supporters demonstrated resilience despite pressure from political authorities in the state.
He noted that despite losing the election at his ward level, he’s satisfied with his participation in the electoral exercise, saying such a demonstration was a testament of his commitment to democracy.
His said : “What we have done today is that we have been able to defeat unnecessary and undue intimidation by the authority of the state.
“We want to surely tell them that we belong to this state together. We belong to this place. I’m a member of this ward. I grew up here, so nobody can intimidate us.
Addressing journalists, the incumbent lawmaker seeking third term in office, Steve Fatoba, dismissed allegations that his candidacy was being imposed on party members, insisting that his popularity across the constituency was evident from the turnout of supporters at the exercise.
“With what you can see here today, is this really evidence of imposition? Did we coerce anybody that queued behind me?
“Politicians can say whatever they like, but the facts speak for themselves. What we can see physically here today shows clearly that I’m grounded and loved by my people”. Fatoba added.
Also,an aspirant to the Ekiti South Federal Constituency One, Olasunkanmi Olajunyin alleged widespread malpractices in the party primaries held in Ikere and Ilawe towns yesterday.
The aggrieved aspirant alleged the Saturday exercise was marred by violence and disruption in Ikere Local Government Area, preventing a free and fair voting process in several wards.
The APC aspirant disclosed that his complaint had been incidented at the Police Area Commande Office in Ikere.
Meanwhile, a member of House of Representatives, Hon. Davidson Akinlayo has dismissed allegations of thuggery levelled against him by the Ekiti State Police Command alleging that it was staged to discourage his teeming supporters from voting for him in the primaries.
Akinlayo who is presently representing Moba/Ilejemeje/ Ido-Osi Federal Constituency at the National Assembly and seeking re-election said the allegation was not only politically motivated but also a calculated attempt by his detractors to tarnish his good image.
Recall that Police in the state arrested eleven suspected political thugs armed with dangerous weapons inside Onikoyi Hotel, Ikun Ekiti, calming they were being sponsored by the federal lawmaker.
Also, Bimbo Daramola Campaign Organisation has condemned the self-declaration of unvalidated election results by House of Representatives spokesman, Hon. Akin Rotimi, in a report published by The Punch.
According to the campaign organisation, Rotimi published the results and declared himself winner of the House of Representatives primary election for the Oye/Ikole Federal Constituency, despite losing at the polls.
In a statement signed by Lanre Aribisala, Head of Media for the Daramola campaign, Hon. Bimbo Daramola described Rotimi’s actions as “illusory” and “desperation taken too far.”
It reads: “We need to make it clear that we have our agents and have collated the results from our agents. Whatever results Hon. Rotimi and his cohorts are bandying around and remain in the figment of his imagination.”
The campaign alleged that results from Ikole Local Government were taken to the residence of a serving commissioner in the Ekiti State Government, while results from Oye Local Government were taken to the hotel of another government official for collation. It said it had pictures and video evidence from agents at the various locations.
“Here was an election mired by over-voting, violence, and other vices. We ask the public to disregard the purported results and reject the framed outcome as the figment of the imagination of an aspirant who has gone ahead to declare himself a winner,” Aribisala said.
In her remarks, the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, saluted the Governor Biodun Oyebanji-led leadership, for setting a template of direct primary that is democratic and acceptable to stakeholders.
Mrs Afuye said the party had succeeded in giving power back to the people by allowing their voices to count and made Democratic contributions to who should represent them at any level of government.
The deputy governor gave the commendations in Ikere Ekiti, on Saturday, after voting at Atiba/Aafin Ward, during the House of Representatives primary in Ekiti South Federal Constituency’s shadow election.
Mrs Afuye advised party members to keep the bond of unity in the party and align firmly with the party leadership in whatever decision they make to make the party record a resounding victory in the June 20 Governorship poll and the 2027 general elections.
