Alleged Electoral Manipulation Mar Ekiti APC Governorship Primary
The Governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State was on Saturday marred by alleged manipulation of electoral process by some aspirants.
According to aggrieved members the delegates were been maneuvered and tactically induced to vote in favour of a particular aspirant which did not go well with them.
Delegates from about four out of the sixteen local government areas of the state were yet to conclude their voting before the shadow election was disrupted.
This they did after special and statutory delegates, comprising former governor, former senators, former House of Representative members, other party stalwarts as well as members of the state working had voted.
Some of the party members alleged to have destroyed the ballot boxes and paper were arrested by the law enforcement agents on ground.
Others were seen in and around Oluyemi Kayode Stadium where the election was held chanting all manners of slogans to deride the process.
While most of the party members and delegates said that the process must be stopped at that point, some of them insisted that the process must continue.
The agents of some strong contenders accused the security agencies of allegedly compromising the process in favour of former Governor Kayode Fayemi.
Trouble started at about 5.30pm when some agents raised observations about how the process was being allegedly compromised, accusing some security agents of dictating to delegates who they should vote for.
Police and other security agencies shot sporadically into the air when the situation was escalating into a full scale war among the camps.
Efforts made by Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Al Makura to calm down frayed nerves were rebuffed.
They also accused Fayemi’s agents of dictating to delegates who to vote for and also writing the serial numbers of their ballot papers to authenticate who they actually voted for, probably for pecuniary gains after the poll..
The agents’ protest had attracted their principals and other interested parties, who joined the fray and made spirited efforts to grab the ballot boxes to stall the entire process.
They threw sachet water indiscriminately while also chanting derisive songs against the former governor
They were however, prevented by DSS and police and other sister agencies from gaining access to where the ballot boxes containing already thumb printed papers.
Security agencies also arrested one man for allegedly trying to grab the ballot box and he was stripped naked and was being taken to the custody.
The Director General of Babafemi Ojudu Campaign Organisation, Chief Ranti Adebisi complained that the process has been heavily compromised
“The guideline stipulated that each aspirant can only bring in four supporters, but Fayemi brought many. His agents, including DSS were issuing cards to delegates to fill when they vote for him, so that they can later come for the money he promised them.
“I contested against Fayemi in 2007 and I knew what I am talking about. The process has been compromised. Even, Fayemi has been bragging around that he is friend to Alhaji Tanko Al –Makura, so we are disappointed that this could happen”, he said.
Also, an APC chieftain, Mr. Femi Afolabi alleged that the process has been compromised by some security agencies, whom he said were dictating who they should vote for after authentication.
But Fayemi’s agent, Mr Samuel Bejide said it was gang up against the Minister that led to the spurious allegation, accusing those peddling rumour as enemies of APC.
“It was a proviso that if you are a delegate who can’t read and write, you can call any of the agents. When they saw that I was the one being called, they started feeling the heat and they were determined to disrupt it”.
Delegates had defied the heavy downpour that lasted for about two hour to elect the flagbearer of the party in the July 14 election.
As of the time of filling this report, the Chairman of the Ekiti APC Governorship primary Committee and governor of Nasarawa State, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura, was said to be in a closed door meeting with the aspirants and other leaders of the party.
Some of the delegates, party members and journalists were still at the Stadium to see out things while security agents were also on ground to maintain law and order.
Before the commencement of voting earlier in the day, Al-Makura, announced that the number of accredited delegates that will vote in the primary was 2,409.
The statutory number of delegates in Ekiti APC was 2,618, but the number dropped on account of deaths, defections to other parties and inabilities to fill some vacant positions.
Voting commenced at about 3.30pm after a torrential and stormy downfall had delayed the exercise for over an hour which nearly destroyed the tent erected in the heart of the Stadium where Al-Makura and members of his committee were to be seated.
Party leaders and aspirants who voted as automatic delegates include, Former Governors Niyi Adebayo and Bamidele Olumilua , Segun Oni, Kayode Fayemi, Senator Babafemi Ojudu , Femi Bamisile,Hon Opeyemi Bamidele, Hon Bamidele Faparusi, Senator Gbenga Aluko, Hon Bimbo Daramola and Senator Ayo Arise among other governorship aspirants.
After the party stalwarts had voted, the Chief Jide Awe-led State Working Committee(SWC) members also followed suit after which ward and local government delegates from Ekiti East and Ado Local governments took their turns .
Before the commencement of the voting, Al-Makura apologized for the delay caused by nature (rainfall) .
“We are about to start the voting now, we are sorry for the delay and we also commend you for your understanding.
“Let me plead with delegates to be orderly. All the 33 aspirants that you have paraded are eminently qualified to lead Ekiti.
“So, be rest assured that no fake delegate will vote here and no eligible one will be disenfranchised.
“We are beginning with authentication of the accredited delegates after which we shall give you the ballot to cast your votes”, he said.
