A total of 885 members of the Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have been elected as ward delegates for the party’s governorship primary election in the state.
The delegates are to participate in the affirmation and ratification of the party’s consensus candidate, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, coming up tomorrow.
The ward congress, held simultaneously in all the 177 wards of the 16 local government areas of the state, was conducted to elect five delegates each from the wards, in line with APC guidelines.
The exercise, monitored by officials of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), journalists, security agencies and civil society organizations was generally peaceful, free, fair and credible.
While some wards voted to elect their delegate, some adopted consensus mode for the election.
Some top members of the party and government officials in the state were elected ward delegates in the respective wards.
They include, speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye; secretary to the state government, Prof. Abibat Adubiaro; deputy speaker, Rt. Hon. Bolaji Egbeyemi; House of Representative member, Olusola Steve Fatoba; former deputy governor of the state, Princess Modupe Adelabu as well as former and serving local government chairmen, among others.
Meanwhile, a team of INEC registered CSOs for the delegate and governorship primary elections in the state has hailed the process.
The team led by Romanus Azubuike said it observed the following, having visited the three Senatorial districts of the state to monitor the ward congresses,
“That the delegate election took place across all the 177 electoral wards covering the 16 Local Government Areas of the state, in accordance with the party’s guidelines.
“There was an impressive turnout of joyful and enthusiastic party faithful who participated in the exercise.
“The election was conducted in a peaceful and conducive manner, under the watchful presence of various security agencies.
“Party officials delegated by the APC National Headquarters carried out their duties credibly and professionally.”
The group also commended the President Bola Tinubu, the Council of State, and the National Assembly for the nomination and timely confirmation of the new INEC chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan (SAN).
“We also commend the Governor Biodun Oyebanji, for providing a conducive environment for the exercise to take place. He demonstrated true leadership by not interfering in the process, despite being a candidate in the election.
“We further appreciate all stakeholders and party members for their orderliness and peaceful conduct throughout the exercise.”
It noted that Ekiti State is peaceful during and after the exercise.
