Ahead of the 2022 governorship election in Ekiti State, a group known as Ekiti Concerned Professionals has given Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele a cheque of N22.5 million to purchase his expression of interest and nomination forms.
Bamidele, popularly knowns as MOB, is a current senator representing Ekiti Central in the National Assembly under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The group presented the senator with a cheque of N22.5 million in his office, Abuja to enable him to participate in APC’s governorship primary poll for Ekiti.
The group led by its Chairman, Mr Lekan Ajisafe, made the presentation at the National Assembly’s office of the senator in Abuja.
Newsflash Nigeria had reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had fixed the governorship election in Ekiti for June 18, 2022.
Ajisafe said the amount was raised within a week among Ekiti professionals from home and abroad would cover the cost of nomination and expression of interest forms to be purchased by the lawmaker, who is aspiring to the office of governor of his state.
He described Bamidele, who is the Chairman of the Southern Senators’ Forum as “a tested hand” who they are confident would move the state forward considering his track record of experiences in the legislative, judiciary and executive arms of government.
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He said that “Bamidele is a tested hand and who is capable of turning the state for better considering his experiences in governance. We believe it is high time Ekiti presented its best product and also put its best foot forward.
”We have looked at this gubernatorial contest that is coming, we don’t want an unpopular candidate, we don’t want anyone who will come and rule the state by trying and experimenting. So, we want a tested hand. We want a trusted and experienced hand.
”That is why we all put our resources together to raise this cheque for him to buy this nomination and expression of interest forms ahead of the Ekiti governorship election.
”To show you that we really want him to run, we don’t want you to use your money to purchase the forms. We raised this money in less than a week. This is our mark of support to you.”
Bamidele in his remark appreciated the gesture, describing it as an impetus to his desire to serve the people of Ekiti.
MOB said he is confident of clinching the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket for the state.
Bamidele spoke after he received a cheque from Ekiti Concerned Professionals at his office in the national assembly on Monday.
The legislator said he stands a better chance of picking the ticket because he is loved by the people.
“As to my own aspirations in Ekiti, I have no doubt that whether it is direct primary or it is indirect primary you know, I stand a good chance by the grace of God to win the primary,” he said.
“I know that I am loved by the people of Ekiti state and I know that my own aspiration goes beyond pasting posters on the walls in Ekiti because I am a poster that is already posted on the minds of the people of Ekiti state.
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“I’m looking forward to a very decent governorship race, a race that is popular, a race that is decent, a race that is driven by ideas and on issues and a race that is violence-free.
“We have in place a governor who is well educated, who is respected by all, who understands the language of democracy and development, who I also know will ensure that there is an atmosphere for everybody to aspire and I believe that Ekiti has become a cynosure of all eyes in this country and a lot of people are interested in what is about to happen in Ekiti.”
The senator said the electoral bill is for the citizens yearning to have free and fair elections.
“It’s about moving Nigeria forward, those who felt strongly about the idea of putting a clause in our proposed electoral bill to guarantee direct primaries as a method of choosing candidates of political parties meant well for the country,” he said.
“Some of those who are trying to oppose it, some of them also have logical arguments.
“Regardless of who posited what, who was opposed to what, the national assembly has passed a bill in that regard, and the bill is awaiting presidential assent. I want to believe that the president also means very well for Nigeria, he will take a decision he believes is in the best interest of Nigerians.”
