Ekiti 2018: Arise, Fayemi Trade Tackles
Former National Assembly member, Senator Ayo Arise, on Monday said that no law stops the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Fayemi to declare interest in the governorship poll earlier than he did.
Arise argued that those who had earlier declared interest in the governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) didn’t break any provision of the Electoral Act.
The former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Privatisation who noted that the Electoral Act 2010 as amended provided that aspirants can only campaign 90 days to election, said the declaration of intent by aspirants was not an open campaign but a mere mobilizing steps by party aspirants to shore up followership and supportive base as well as popularity among the party members.
Speaking in Ado Ekiti Arise said the statement credited to former governor Fayemi that he decided to tarry a while in declaring for the governorship to prevent him from flouting the INEC Electoral Law only portrayed those who had earlier declared as lawbreakers , rather than being commended for mobilizing for the party.
Fayemi had while declaring his intent to vie for the July 14, governorship poll on Saturday at his Isan Ekiti country home in Oye local government , said he could not afford to break the law as a serving Minister under a government that has enormous respect for the Rule of Law but would rather wait until April 14 ,fixed by INEC for lifting of ban on electioneering campaign.
Arise who is also a governorship aspirant on the platform of APC said, “Politics requires calculation and I want to believe that he(Fayemi) only tried to conserve money, stay in government and observe the politics as it played out before declaring, this itself is wisdom .
“So, I see those who had declared earlier as mobilisers. My brother, Dr Fayemi is welcome wholeheartedly but I am only worried that someone was trying to come out to play smart.
“We have nothing to fear provided the primary is free, fair and credible, so that our party can be peaceful and united to fight this battle.
“The statement that all other aspirants are not law abiding is not good enough. Those of us who have declared are not law breakers.
“Fayemi is the leader of the party. We are not unaware of the provision of the law. It could have been more dignified if the Honourable Minister had said he was coming late because of his status as a serving Minister. It is not good for him to have portrayed all of us as not law abiding.
“However, we welcome him into the race. He is a leader of our great party and the primary I think will be interesting.”
