Ekiti guber : Adeyeye calls for direct primary, cautions against imposition of unpopular person

From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti

Former Minister of Works, Senator Dayo Adeyeye, has urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State to adopt direct primary to elect the party’s flagbearer for the June 18 governorship election in the state.

Adeyeye who cautioned against the imposition of an unpopular person during the January 27 primary, appealed to the national leaders of the party on the adoption of a direct primary saying it will allow the party to pick a popular candidate that can win the election and also help the party retain power in the state.

Adeyeye, who is the National Chairman, Southwest Agenda for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu 2023 presidential ambition(SWAGA), also boasted that the Ekiti State chapter of the APC and the people of the state in general would back Tinubu’s presidential aspiration, describing him as the best man to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari .

The former Minister said this in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday while declaring his intention to vie for Ekiti governorship on the platform of APC.

Before addressing supporters at the Prince Adedayo Adeyeye Movement office in Ado Ekiti , he had held a rally with large crowd of supporters, who marched from Adebayo area of the capital city via Ijigbo to Ajilosun, where his office was located.

Adeyeye posited that the best way to democratise the APC’s primary and make the outcome acceptable in Ekiti, is by adopting direct primary, so that the party can get a popular candidate to face the opposition.

“APC must win this election, they must pick someone that is popular. You can see for yourselves that people are with us. In 2018, we told some arrogant people that they won’t have their way through imposition and it happened . It is obvious that only a popular candidate can win for APC in this election.

“The national leaders of our great party must return this party to the people . Let the national leaders adopt direct primary to elect the candidate for Ekiti poll, if truly we want to get a popular candidate . Let us return power to the people. With popular participation, people themselves would decide the candidate in the interest of justice, equity and fair-play. All the aspirants must go for direct primary.

“I still believe that if the process is credible and a popular candidate is elected, we will all support the person. But if you go to your closet to bring out a candidate, that would not work. Primaries should be democratic.

” What is difficult in conducting direct primary if truly you are open and popular? The party must go on the side of the people”.

Adeyeye stated that Tinubu presidential ambition would bring goodness to Ekiti, especially if Ekiti people also elect him to govern the state after clinching the APC’s ticket.

“Our prayers is that Asiwaju Tinubu will be President and that you will make me the governor of Ekiti State. If this should happen, Ekiti will be better for it. With Tinubu and Adeyeye, it is more goodness for Ekiti.

“Your time has come. We know our governor has not been fraternising with you. He has not been making himself accessible, but if you elect me, I will dine and wine with you. With me as your governor, no room for Poverty in Ekiti again, we will work hard to end it.

“Go and make up your mind and vote for me during the primary, you will not regret it”.

Explaining the reason for his ambition, having failed to realise such on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party in 2018, Adeyeye hinged this on his vision to serve Ekiti and fight the scourge of poverty and unemployment in their ranks.

Adeyeye, flanked by a former House of Representatives member, Hon. Oyetunde Ojo, said SWAGA is the most formidable political group in Ekiti APC, saying this was responsible for why others were afraid of direct primary.

Describing Adeyeye as the best man that can secure victory for APC, Hon Ojo, appealed to delegates to resist attempt by moneybags to buy their conscience during the parimary.

“This is the longest rally ever organised by an aspirant since my political career in 2005. Go home and start mobilising. Let them know that Senator Adeyeye is the right man for the job. Don’t let us be deceived again, deception is coming. If you allow another candidate to emerge in APC, you have been deceived again.

“Don’t allow continuation of deception. Don’t allow them to buy you. SWAGA offers alternative platform if not for the group virtually all aggrieved APC members would have defected to PDP. SWAGA is popular that is why they are scared of direct primary. It is only Adeyeye that can do it” .