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Rerun primary election conducted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) into Ekiti/Oke-Ero/Irepodun/Isin Federal Constituency is generating bad blood.
An aggrieved aspirant, Cornelius Oluwasegun Adebayo faulted the exercise, describing it as a kangaroo primary election.
Another primary election was conducted last Thursday for the Ekiti/Oke-Ero/Irepodun/Isin federal constituency where the incumbent Hon. Tunji Raheem Olawuyi reportedly won against earlier primary where Engir Adebayo emerged the winner.
Speaking with reporters in Ilorin, supporters of the aggrieved aspirant, led by Emmanuel Moronfoye, said that Adebayo remained the validly elected APC flag bearer for the constituency.
Moronfoye said that there is no valid ground for rescheduling of the purported re-run primary election, adding that there was no any protest or valid complaint against the initial primary election, “as the result was widely accepted by all”.
According to him: “The purported re-run election was not communicated to Cornelius Oluwasegun Adebayo and the reason for the cancellation of the only valid election is still unknown.
“Cornelius Adebayo was neither represented nor did he have any agent present during the rerun. It was an internal arrangement orchestrated by a few unscrupulous elements disguised as progressives”, he said.
Moronfoye recalled: “Engineer Cornelius Oluwasegun Adebayo clearly won the original primary election which was held on May 27, 2022 at Omu-Aran.
“The election on May 27, 2022 was a FREE, FAIR and CREDIBLE ELECTION devoid of disruption.
“After the primary, his fellow contestants conceded defeat and made several broadcasts to congratulate him.
“It came as a rude shock to Engineer Adebayo and his supporters that another rerun was being conducted for the Ekiti/Oke-Ero/Irepodun/Isin constituency Federal House of Representatives seat, with the inclusion of an aspirant who had never participated in the initial process.
“It is worthy of note that Hon Raheem Tunji Olawuyi (Ajulo-Opin) contested for the APC Kwara South senatorial district primary election and lost to Senator Lola Ashiru.
“Also, it is pertinent to state that Hon. Tunji Raheem Ajulo-Opin didn’t by any means whatsoever contest for the Federal House of Representatives seat of the Ekiti/Oke-Ero/Irepodun/Isin Federal Constituency.
“He didn’t partake in the screening for the House of Representatives seat, he didn’t make it to the ballot for the original primary election for the Federal House of Representatives seat and in a similar vein, there isn’t any evidence whatsoever to show that he bought a nomination form for the Federal Representative seat, except if he fraudulently connived with the so called ‘cabal’ to get the nomination form.
Adebayo appreciated and encouraged his supporters to be calm, assuring them that justice shall be served.
He said “as the kangaroo rerun election is null and void and cannot stand the test of time.”
