Ekiti PDP knocks APC over conduct of Reps primary

Says exercise fraught with electoral fraud

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From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has berated the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state over the conduct of its House of Representatives primary election.

The Ekiti APC on Saturday held its primary election across the state, adopting a direct primary mode to produce its candidates to contest the 2027 general elections.

The PDP, while alleging that the primary exercise was characterised by electoral fraud, criticised the leadership of the APC for prioritising the interests of only a few mighty individuals in the party. It questioned the place of inclusivity and internal democracy, which it said are key ingredients of true governance.

In a statement by the Spokesperson of the PDP in the Southwest and Director, Directorate of Media and Communication, Wole Oluyede Campaign Organisation, Chief Sanya Atofarati, made available to newsmen on Sunday, the PDP urged aggrieved aspirants in the APC to join forces with it to rescue the state from the grips of those he described as “political hijackers”.

The statement titled “Join Forces with Oluyede to Vote Out BAO” — PDP Spokesman, Atofarati Charges Aggrieved APC Aspirants, reads,

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has strongly condemned the sham and disgraceful charade called the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives direct primaries conducted on Saturday across the state. What played out was nothing short of electoral fraud executed openly in broad daylight and in the full glare of cameras under the watchful eyes of Nigerians.

“Reports from several polling centres revealed how non-party members without any form of identification were allowed to participate in the exercise in clear violation of the party’s own electoral guidelines. The exercise exposed the deep-rooted desperation, manipulation, and anti-democratic tendencies that have now become the trademark of the APC leadership in Ekiti State.

“This brazen assault on internal democracy is a dangerous signal ahead of future elections. It further confirms the fears of many Ekiti people that those currently in power have perfected the act of weaponising poverty, suppressing credible voices, and hijacking democratic processes for selfish political survival. The APC has reduced governance and politics to a criminal enterprise where impunity thrives unchecked.

“We call on all aggrieved APC aspirants and their supporters not to remain silent in the face of this injustice. We urge them to join forces with the PDP governorship candidate for the June 20 election, Dr Wole Oluyede, in the collective mission to rescue Ekiti State from political hijackers who have become an epidemic within our democratic system.

“Saturday’s fraudulent exercise has once again exposed the hypocrisy of those who preach democracy but practice dictatorship. We call on all well-meaning Ekiti citizens, especially the cheated APC aspirants and their supporters, to align with Dr Wole Oluyede and the PDP to recover Ekiti and restore dignity, transparency, and people-oriented governance,” Atofarati stated.