Biodun Oyebanji, the immediate past secretary to the state government (SSG) of Ekiti state has emerged as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the 2022 governorship election.
Biodun Oyebanji emerged as the winner of the APC governorship direct primary election held in Ekiti state on Thursday with 101,703 votes defeating seven other aspirants.
Results of other aspirants are, Dayo Adeyeye, 691 votes; Bamidele Faparusi, 376; Femi Bamisile, 400; Opeyemi Bamidele, 760; Demola Popoola, 239; Olushola Afolabi, 47 and Kayode Ojo, 767 votes.
The chairman of the APC primary election committee and governor of Jigawa state, Abubakar Badaru said the exercise which took place across the 177 wards in the state was peaceful, transparent and credible.
Oyebanji, from Ikogosi-Ekiti, in the central senatorial district is believed to be the incumbent governor, Kayode Fayemi’s preferred aspirant.
Meanwhile, the other seven aspirants had earlier withdrawn from the primary election and called for its immediate cancellation over alleged cases of fraud and malpractices.
The aggrieved aspirants are Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Senator Dayo Adeyeye, Hon Bamidele Faparusi, Demola Popoola, Afolabi Oluwasola, Hon Femi Bamisile and Kayode Ojo.
Speaking with Journalists at the party’s Secretariat in Ado Ekiti, in the early hours of Thursday, the aggrieved aspirants had alleged that aides and those loyal to Governor Kayode Fayemi and his anointed aspirant Biodun Oyebanji were appointed by the Committee as presiding and returning officers.
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They also alleged that Governor Mohammed Abubakar Badaru-led APC governorship Primary Committee has given the result sheets to Oyebanji’s supporters to write the results even before the election.
Senator Bamidele, who addressed newsmen on behalf of other colleague contestants, said the party should not take any step that would embarrass APC in the Court.
“They shouldn’t embarrass APC with this conduct. We want the Committee to stop the process. They have made the result sheets available to Biodun Oyebanji’s supporters to write the results.
“It was also embarrassing and unfortunate that only the government appointees and those loyal to Governor Fayemi and Oyebanji were appointed as Returning Officers and Presiding Officers.
“The outcome of this election is predetermined. We want the process cancelled because we don’t want the committee to embarrass our party by forcing us to confront them in the court”.
Also speaking, Senator Dayo Adeueye and Hon Bamidele Faparusi, condemned the modality being adopted by the Committee to conduct the primary, saying it was allegedly laced with fraud.
The aspirants later visited the offices if the Independent National Electoral Commission and Department of State Security and Police Command to Lodge complaints.
Oyebanji reacts, says appeal panel will handle all controversy
Reacting, Hon Biodun Oyebanji, described the primary election as credible, free and fair, contrary to position maintained by his co-contestants, who branded the poll as a sham.
Speaking with journalists in his Ikogosi, Ekiti West Local Government’s country home, where he voted on Thursday’s primary, Oyebanji commended the Governor Mohammed Abubakar Badaru-led panel for being thorough in the contest of the shadow poll.
“The guidelines of our party gives room for the constitution of appeal committee to attend to whatever grievances anyone has. They have the right to their opinions, but the party will come up with its position on whatever they say”.
Disproving the allegation of fraud and manipulation: “We thank God for the role of technology in our politics. The report I got was that things are going on well. I have seen people queuing for accreditation and voting.
“In fact, the process has gone on seamlessly and peacefully and the committee should be commended”.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed July 18, 2022, for the Ekiti state 2022 gubernatorial election.
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