Arise Sues APC Over Ekiti North Primary

An aspirant in the just-concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) National Assembly primaries, Senator Ayo Arise, has instituted a legal action against the outcome of the party’s Ekiti North Senatorial Constituency primaries.

Arise, who confirmed that he has approached the court of law on the senatorial primary, insisted that he lawfully won the exercise.

The APC chieftain, during a media interview in Ado-Ekiti,  said his decision to institute the action immediately after the primary, was informed by his understanding of the timelines stipulated by Nigeria’s electoral act.

He noted that he was not surprised when his name was eventually omitted from the list of the party’s candidates.

The former federal lawmaker, representing Ekiti North Senatorial District, said the legal action was not driven by personal ambition but by the need to ensure that political parties comply with their own rules and uphold democratic principles.

Arise explained that he filed his suit within the legally prescribed period to avoid losing the opportunity to seek judicial intervention, arguing that waiting for subsequent announcements by the party would have rendered any legal action ineffective.

Arise maintained that many aspirants were misled into waiting for declarations by the party’s national leadership, despite provisions in the APC guidelines indicating how the primary process should be concluded.

According to him, the party’s actions were inconsistent with its own guidelines governing the primary election.

He said, “I went ahead and filed my case in court because I knew what was coming. That is why I was not surprised at the outcome. This is not about me; it is about ensuring that we have a system that works for everybody.

“I believe many people were carried away by statements that only the national officers could announce the winners, whereas the party guidelines clearly stated the procedure. There was more than met the eye, and I was careful not to fall into that trap.

“The court is now the arbiter. It will determine whether the party’s guidelines were followed. Once rules are made, they must be obeyed. If they are violated, there must be a place where justice can be sought, and that place is the court.

“My name was omitted. I wasn’t cleared despite presenting my complaints and evidence during the appeal process. For anyone not to see what happened, it must have been deliberate. There appeared to be a written script.”