Ekiti APC congress free of hitches, party says no rift between Fayemi, Tinubu
By Samuel Ogunsona
The All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State (Ekiti APC) has dismissed reports that the congress held in the 177 wards of the state were marred by irregularities.
In a statement on Sunday, APC spokesperson
Director, Media and Communications
Caretaker Committee
Mr Sam Oluwalana said the Congress was peaceful.
The party dismissed reports that the State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi was at loggerheads with former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu
In a statement he made available to Irohinoodua, Oluwalana said media reports that there was violence in Ekiti state during the APC Ward Congresses held on Saturday were false.
“We would like to state categorically that the exercise was overwhelmingly peaceful across the state, and was a demonstration of our commitment to the principles and practice of democracy, as our members trooped out peacefully to elect executives of the party in the 177 wards in the state” he said.
According to him, without prejudice to ongoing investigations by the Ekiti State Command of the Nigeria Police Force, the APC he said would like to clarify issues around the isolated case of violence that occurred around the venue of the congress in Ward 10, Ado-Ekiti, which sadly resulted in the death of one person.
He said “It is incontrovertible that the congress in the ward was peacefully concluded, followed by a celebration.”
He said the only incidence was that there was a disagreement between two individuals around the venue on a matter totally unconnected to the congresses, which led to a fight and the unfortunate demise of one of them.
“We have it on good authority that the incident happened long after the congress had been concluded and was not connected to the conduct nor outcome of the exercise.
We commiserate with the family of the deceased and assure the authorities of our cooperation in their investigations” he said.
Oluwalana said in most of the wards across the state, the members and stakeholders of the party chose their leaders by consensus after extensive consultations and came out to affirm their choices at the designated congress venues.
“In other wards where consensus could not be reached, there were free and fair elections in line with the provisions of the party’s constitution. There were no instances of parallel congresses anywhere in the state, and the entire exercise was conducted under the supervision of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and security agencies”
He said elections are naturally contentious, and there would always be differences in opinions and choices.
“The most important thing is that a level playing field was provided for all interested parties to freely exercise their franchise without let or hindrance. This is what we have done, and we congratulate all members of APC Ekiti for an overwhelmingly peaceful and successful exercise as we begin to prepare for the subsequent stages” Oluwalana said.
He disabused the minds of the public on insinuations being peddled about a purported clash between supporters of Governor Kayode Fayemi and supporters of H.E.
“Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in the state. Our respected national leader is well known to have contributed to the growth of the party in Ekiti State and the entire country, and we as a party are aware of the very cordial relationship between Asiwaju Tinubu and Governor Fayemi. Conflict entrepreneurs are advised to look elsewhere for a different narrative to bolster their divisive tendencies, and not fan embers of discord where there is none. We encourage any genuinely aggrieved party member to seek redress through the party’s internal conflict resolution mechanisms, and to desist from sponsoring false media narratives that are injurious to our collective interests.”
He said “Together we are greater than the sum of our individual parts.”
