Politics
Ekiti Central Senatorial District Primary : APC youths petition Buhari over alleged irregularities
THE All Progressives Congress (APC) youth members in Ado Ekiti, have petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari, over the outcome of the district’s primary election which they described as mockery of democracy, calling for its cancellation for not adhering to guidelines.
In the petition, a copy of which was sent to the party’s national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and its national chairman, Adams Oshiomole, the youths complained that the primary fell short of their expectations, declaring that neither the guidelines nor the party’s constitution were observed.
Also, the petition signed by its coordinator, Olu Adedayo, maintained that the process of the primary election which produced Hon.Opeyemi Bamidele and others was devoid of all democratic ethics and values and against the direct primary which was ordered by the party
While congratulating President Buhari on his emergence as the party’s flag bearer in the 2019 elections, the 80,000 members of the Ekiti Central All Progress Congress, APC, noted that the emergence of Buhari was a sign to the whole world of his posture to a fair and equitable process which should permeate through the total political manufacturing procedure of the party
The petition further reads, “it is in the line of holding political process within the concept of credibility, integrity, equity, fairness, and justice that we are constrained to alert you about the brazenly crude process which accompanied the purported Friday 5 October APC Ekiti Central Senatorial primary election held in Ado – Ekiti.
“Your Excellency, the so-called primary election which produced Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele and others was nothing but a mockery of democracy and a charade of the equitable process of electing who should represent the people and the interest of the party
“The process was devoid of all democratic ethics and values and against the direct primary which was ordered by the party. Sir, the fact is the APC Ekiti Central Primary election was NOT conducted within the rules of Direct Primary or Option A 4 where electorates will queue behind the aspirants of their choice.
” Also, because of the premeditated choice of the particular aspirant, 2014 party membership register was used instead of the current 2017 and 2018 Register which would have taken care of some new joiners who defected from other parties recently to APC
“Also, on the day of the election, election materials were not made available in all the centers and voters were shocked to learn of the result of an election which was not conducted while they were waiting for the arrival of the officials and materials with which the voting process will done.
“At this point, people dispersed to the streets to express their unreserved dissatisfaction about the situation. It is on record that on the same day protest ensued in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti state capital, as aggrieved party members matched in peaceful demonstration to the APC party secretariat to express their rejection of the result of an election that never held.
“What we had in Ekiti Central senatorial Primary election was a brazen daylight disfranchisement of all eligible voters who joined the party from 2015 as none of them had their names in the 2014 party membership register which was used and in places that voting took place, the members of the party were told in no certain terms that their votes were useless as the results had been predetermined hence why the ward Exco only brought photocopies of the result sheet as the originals were at party secretariat .
“The result is that the emerged candidate is a product of an unholy, filthy and unjust political process whereby the multitude of voters was denied their right thereby forcing on them an unpopular candidate who was not voted for and who has no moral latitude to represent the APC in the next election.
” We are using this platform to appeal to your Excellency as the leader of the party who is not only a symbol and paragon of integrity but who emerged through a free and fair primary election to order for the cancellation of the Ado Ekiti APC Central Senatorial Primary which produced Mr Opeyemi Bamidele and for a new primary which should be supervised by a neutral Committee set up by the National Secretariat of the party .
“We absolutely believe in the unity of and robust integration of our party. But this unity of purpose should not be sacrificed or wasted on the altar of the imposition of an unpopular candidate who emerged through a black-market process.
” We therefore in the spirit of fairness, equity and democratic process call for the cancellation of the purported primary held in Ekiti APC Central Senatorial District it lacked credibility, the majority of would-be voters were disenfranchised, the use of 2014 membership register which prevented all those who joined the party from 2014 from participating in the election
“Your Excellency, this we humbly pray for and we hope our supplication shall be upheld in the light of justice for all”, the petition continued.
By Idowu Ayodele
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has criticized the alleged forceful conversion of public reading and learning facilities in Dugbe, Ibadan, into shopping malls and lock-up shops by the state government, describing the development as shameful, ill-conceived, and unacceptable.
In a statement released over the weekend by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, and made available to journalists in Ibadan, the APC also raised concerns about the alleged sale of the modern motor park facility at Wema Area on New Ife Road, Ibadan, built during the administration of the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi.
According to the party, the motor park has been sold to a pastor who presides over a popular church near the facility.
Residents of Ibadan, the state capital, were reportedly stunned when they noticed the sudden erection of massive private business complexes within the premises of the Oyo State Library Board.
The facilities, built by the defunct Western Region government, had served as public libraries and archives for decades, benefitting students, researchers, and tourists until recently.
“It is a sad reality that the buildings which used to serve as public libraries and archives in Dugbe axis of Ibadan have now paved the way for the development of commercial and business structures,” Sadare said.
“The implication is that education and research development have been relegated to the background in the state by an administration that has done little to address the poor reading culture among young students.”
The APC expressed alarm over what it termed the erosion of public heritage under Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration, alleging that public properties are being sold or leased to private individuals and groups under questionable circumstances.
“How can a government wake up one day and convert public reading facilities and archives into lock-up shops in the name of making money, thereby subjecting society to the dangers of illiteracy and ignorance?” the statement queried.
The party also cited other instances of alleged mismanagement of public assets, including the concession of OYSADEP Guest House in Saki and Agbowo Shopping Complex in Ibadan, warning that the trend poses a serious threat to the state’s socio-economic development.
“Sad enough, the ignoble activities of the governor and a few other characters around him as they involve mismanagement of land and other resources belonging to the state have paved the way for a surge in land grabbing cases in most parts of the state capital. There are many cases involving appointees of the governor, PDP lawmakers, local government officials, and party chieftains,” the statement added.
The APC called on well-meaning individuals and stakeholders in the state to demand accountability from the Makinde administration and halt what it described as the systematic erosion of public resources and heritage.
Over 300 constituents of Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency in Oyo State benefitted from a skill acquisition and empowerment programme organized by their representative in the National Assembly, Hon. Akinmoyede Olafisoye.
The event, held at Faith Joe Event Centre, Alegongo, Akobo, Ibadan, aimed to address the challenges of unemployment and economic hardship by equipping participants with practical skills and financial support.
The programme focused on empowering youths, students, and unemployed graduates to become self-reliant. Each participant was provided with a certificate, a Point of Sale (POS) terminal, an umbrella, and ₦100,000 as a startup grant to kickstart their businesses.
The tools and financial aid were designed to enable beneficiaries to establish sustainable sources of income.
Participants received comprehensive training, gaining hands-on experience to ensure they could effectively utilize the tools provided. The POS machines were configured with the personal details of the recipients, ensuring proper use and discouraging unauthorized transfers.
Addressing the participants, Akinmoyede who is the Chairman House Committee on Nigeria/ Mexico Parliamentary Friendship enjoined the beneficiaries to explore the opportunity for their benefit by ensuring that they use the machines for the purpose it was meant for.
He added that all the machines have been configured with the documents of individual beneficiaries which will make it very difficult to transfer to another person.
In his goodwill message, the Oyo Central Senatorial chairman of APC, Hon. Joshua Oyebamiji said comparing what the lawmaker has been doing in the area of dishing out empowerment and palliatives to his constituents, it is difficult to tag him a first-timer at the national assembly.
While appreciating Akinmoyede for his gesture at the event, former APC Deputy State Chairman, Alhaji Isiaka Alimi, Hon. Fatai Awoyoola, and Hon. Akinbode Emmanuel said they were yet to discover the magic wand being used by the lawmaker for his constant and habitual empowerment programmes.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke at the end of the training, Afolabi Kuburat, Akinropo Akindotun, Ajala Abisade Iyabo, and Grace Anuoluwapo Ayinde lauded the lawmaker for giving them the opportunity to be self-reliant at this time when Nigerians are facing economic hardship.
The House of Representatives member representing Akinyele/Lagelu federal constituency Oyo State, Hon. Prince Akinmoyede Olafisoye Wasiu has initiated another skill acquisition and capacity-building training for no fewer than 300 members of his constituency.
The initiative which is being organized in partnership with Federal Cooperative College, Ibadan is part of a strategic effort by the lawmaker to foster rural development of cooperative for their economic emancipation and break the shackles of poverty so as to alleviate the impact of the high cost of living among the people in Akinyele/Lagelu federal constituency he represents.
The training programme is coming up on Monday 18th November, 2024 at Faith Joe Event Centre hall. Alegongo, Ibadan by 8.00am.
A statement issued by the Special Assistant on Media to the lawmaker, Alimi Abdullahi stated that the capacity-building is designed to equip participants with essential entrepreneurial skills with a view to building sustainable livelihoods and improve the quality of lives of the people of Akinyele/Lagelu federal constituency.
All the participants for the training are expected to be at the venue by 8am so as not to miss any part of the training.
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