…accuse Leaders of Imposition at Irewolede LCDA
An aspirant for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairmanship seat in Irewolede Local Council Development Area, Engineer Idowu Akosile has appealed to Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji to ensure that the forthcoming primaries of the party to elect Chairmanship and Local Government candidates is free and fair and devoid of imposition.
Speaking during a protest staged at the APC state secretariat, Ajilosun, by supporters and members of the party, Akosile, who was denied his nomination form after the payment of the statutory dues, condemned the actions of some leaders of the party in Ijero Local Government whom he said were acting contrary to the Governor’s instructions that the forthcoming primaries should be free and fair.
He said some leaders of the party were bent on imposing the incumbent for a second term despite a written agreement to zone the chairmanship seat among the six communities which made up Irewolede LCDA by respective leaders and stakeholders.
“I think the APC should allow internal democracy and rule of law to prevail. A situation where a group of people will decide the candidate to vye for political positions is unhealthy for democracy and portends a great danger for the party even in forthcoming elections.
“There was an agreement to zone the chairmanship seat among the five communities which make up Irewolede LCDA, Iloro, Ayegunle, Ijurin, Oke-Oro, Iroko, Ilukuno and Temidire communities. This was unanimously agreed upon by the community leaders before the creation of the LCDA. The document was written to ensure fairness and equity and was signed by representatives of the communities, he said.”
“The present chairman, Dupe Bakare, is from Temidire community. According to the agreement it should naturally be zoned to Iroko community where I’m from. That some group of people will think to impose their candidate over the overall interest of the LCDA is preposterous. I am aware that before now my name had been submitted as the preferred candidate by members of the party in Irewolede LCDA to the party leadership. How the name of the incumbent is suddenly being touted is a mystery to me”
“Governor Oyebanji at a recent stakeholders meeting held at the Governor’s Office stated emphatically that he had no anointed candidate and insisted that there should be a level playing field for all contestants irrespective of affiliation.
“We will take this protest to the highest hierarchy of the party to ensure fairness, equity and justice. This sort of imposition is not healthy for democracy and can cost the party future elections. I believe in Governor Oyebanji’s ability to caution those trying to destabilize the party in Ijero Local Government and Irewolede LCDA. This is not the end”.
The APC in Ekiti State has scheduled the party’s Chairmanship and Local Government primaries for October 7.