…Petition signed by 28 members across 32 wards
Ado-Ekiti — Concerned members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Ekiti South Federal Constituency I have called for the cancellation of the party’s House of Representatives primary election, alleging widespread irregularities, procedural breaches, and deliberate manipulation of the process.
The agitation is contained in a petition signed by 28 members drawn from 32 wards across the three local government areas in the constituency, which was made available to journalists in Ado-Ekiti.
The concerned members, in the petition addressed to the ADC House of Representatives Primary Election Appeal Committee and copied to the party’s Ekiti State Chairman, the ADC governorship candidate in the state, Ambassador Dare Bejide, and the National Chairman, described the exercise as “compromised, unfair, and inconsistent with the party’s democratic standards.”
They alleged that the election was marred by late arrival of materials and a delayed commencement, with voting reportedly starting as late as 4:00 p.m., a development they said created confusion, frustration among delegates, and opportunities for manipulation.
According to them, the credibility of the exercise was further undermined by what they described as an abnormal voting arrangement, where election was conducted ward-by-ward rather than simultaneously across polling units within local government areas.
The concerned members also raised serious allegations over the involvement of a former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State and ADC leader, Professor Kolapo Olusola Eleka, whom they accused of playing a controversial role in the conduct of the primary.
They alleged that he led groups of individuals alongside security operatives who facilitated the movement of unaccredited persons from one ward to another to participate in voting, in what they described as a coordinated attempt to influence the outcome of the exercise.
The petition further alleged that the process was skewed in favour of a preferred aspirant, Mr. Wole Eleka, through what they described as systematic breaches of electoral guidelines.
The concerned members also accused some electoral officials of failing to enforce proper accreditation procedures, particularly the use of e-registration membership cards, thereby allowing impersonation and multiple voting.
They further alleged that some delegates were transported between polling units after voting, enabling them to cast votes in more than one location, while results in some areas were allegedly manipulated or inflated in favour of selected candidates.
Similar complaints, according to the petition, were recorded in Ise/Orun and Ekiti South West Local Government Areas, where they alleged incidents of intimidation, compromised supervision, and procedural violations.
The concerned members expressed worry that the pattern of irregularities across the constituency suggested what they described as a coordinated effort to predetermine the outcome of the primary election.
They also faulted the conduct of some security personnel and electoral officials, accusing them of either failing to act or allegedly enabling the irregularities observed during the process.
They insisted that only the cancellation of the election and the conduct of a fresh primary would restore confidence, unity, and credibility within the party.
The petition concluded with a call for urgent intervention by the ADC leadership, warning that failure to address the grievances could deepen internal divisions and undermine trust in the party’s internal democratic process.
