The National Working Committee NWC of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC has cancelled the results of last Saturday’s botched gubernatorial primary election in Ekiti state and has consequently fixed this Friday, May 11, for the conduct of fresh primaries.
The NWC which took the decision after a marathon session between Monday and Tuesday, however, barred the agents of aspirants who were identified to have disrupted the process from further participating in the primary election in whatever capacity.
“Perhaps, more importantly, is that the exercise of Saturday is cancelled and would now be conducted this Friday, 11th May 2018”, said Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s spokesman at a news conference.
According to him, “the existing primary election committee is maintained, except the secretary who will now be substituted”.
The secretary, Hon. Magaji Aliyu who is a member of the House of Representatives
Other members of the committee who would work alongside its chairman, Gov. Umar Tanko al-Makura of Nasarawa state are; Mr Duke Oshodin; Barr. Robert Okwuego and Mr Tunde Balogun.
According to the party, “All Identified unruly agents that participated in the suspended primary election of May 5, 2018 are disqualified from participating In the rescheduled primary as agents. Accordingly, the following individuals are hereby disqualified from participating as agents or partaking in the rescheduled primary in whatever capacity; Ayodeji Omowaye, Rotimi Faleye, Kayode Afolabi, Oladele Ademola Samuel, Oyetunde Ojo, Akintade Olayisade and Temitope Adewumi.
“All agent tags must bear the name of aspirants they represent. All agents in the rescheduled primary election are hereby barred from coming to the voting arena with their mobile phones”.
Other decisions reached by the NWC are: “Security agents from other states will be mobilized to secure the venue and officials in the rescheduled election. One person would be appointed subject to the consensus of all aspirants to assist persons with disability and illiterate voters. All aspirants must not leave their sitting position unless with the approval of the primary committee
“All aspirants would be held vicariously liable for the conduct of their agents. Names of the following aspirants would now be written in the following order as stated below: Ajayi Olatunji Olowo and Olubunmi Kayode.
“The NWC condemn the disruption of the Primary of 5th May and resolved that all found culpable, directly or indirectly will be punished in accordance with the relevant provisions of the party constitution”