Ekiti State Deputy Governor-elect, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, has denied having an anointed candidate for Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 1 race.
His denial followed cracks in the party as eight of the aspirants from the constituency petitioned the party leadership, accusing the deputy-governor-elect of favouring a particular aspirant currently seeking for the APC ticket to emerge as the party’s candidate.
But Egbeyemi, a former Ado-Ekiti local government chairman and commissioner in the state, warned aspirants to beware of fraudsters and swindlers.
He spoke in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday shortly after he met with all the aspirants and leaders of the party, at his residence, over allegations of imposition against him and some leaders.
Egbeyemi described the allegations as mere rumour and a figment of imagination of those who want to destroy and make reconciliations difficult for the party.
He said: “My attention was drawn to rumour going round to the effect that I have anointed a particular aspirant for the House of Representatives ticket of Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 1.
“I wish to make it very clear that neither myself, the governor-elect, Dr Kayode Fayemi nor our leader, who is also the Deputy National Chairman, South, who also happens to have come from the other constituency, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, has anointed anybody.
“Our only preference and interest is for the party to win all available positions in the forthcoming elections.
“This is the more reason why we encourage the coming together of all the aspirants with a view to forging a common understanding that will pave way for a smooth and successful campaign for whoever eventually emerges as the party’s candidate.
”The leaders have called all the aspirants and spoke to them on the benefits of coming to an agreement among themselves so that they can save energy and resources to channel towards the election, which we consider will be a boost and more importantly for the general elections in 2019 to ensure that our party, the APC wins the Presidential elections.
“Where, however, they fail to come to an agreement, we believe that the democratic rights of all of them must be respected by the party providing a level playing field for all to participate in a free and fair primaries at which party members will freely take a decision.
“I, on behalf of my governor and the leaders wish all aspirants the best and urges electorates to freely exercise their rights.”
Ekiti Central Federal constituency 1, comprises of Ado, Irepodun/ Ifelodun local government areas of Ekiti, while Ado has two constituencies of 13 wards.
While the deputy governor-elect comes from ward 8 in one of the constituencies, the other, which is constituency 1 are claiming that HoR slot should be zoned to them.
The stakeholders’ meeting held at his residence, however, laid to rest, the speculations going round the town that a preferred aspirant has been chosen for the HoR seat in Ekiti Central Federal constituency one.
All aspirants attended the meeting, except Mr Tope Ogunleye, Deji Adetuberu, and Tope Olanipekun, who are no more in the race.
Egbeyemi warned those dropping their names to stop it and cursed who will be using their names for purpose of deceiving unsuspected victims.
In the meeting, one of the aspirants from constituency 2, Akogun Abayomi Lustay, announced his withdrawal from the race and aligned himself with the agitations of Federal constituency one, who are claiming that HoRs should be zoned to them, since constituency two had the deputy governor-elect of the state.
Responding on behalf of other aspirants, Otunba Oladipupo Owolabi, thanked the deputy governor-elect, for coming out openly to disabuse their minds, saying that the meeting had changed whatever anyone had said earlier in his name.
