Kayode Fayemi romps home in APC Ekiti primaries securing landslide victory over his opponents

SOLID minerals minister Dr Kayode Fayemi has emerged as the winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries in Ekiti State yesterday surprisingly sweeping the votes in the rescheduled exercise.

A former governor himself, Dr Fayemi secured 941 votes, beating Segun Oni, his nearest rival, who was also a former governor who only got (481 votes. Other candidates who participated include Kayode Ojo (281), Olufemi Richard Bamisile (179), Oluyede Oluwole (121), and Aluko Daniel Olugbenga (86).

Adekunle Patrick was the only aspirant without a vote while Ajayi Adebowale Oluranti and Elizabeth Taiye had one each. Coker Olumuyiwa, Olumilua Olumuyiwa, Ajayi Olatunji and Ayodele Arise secured two votes apiece, while despite withdrawing from the race, Senator Babafemi Ojudu still managed to get 10 votes.

In total, 2,327 delegates were accredited for the exercise. A total of 33 aspirants were cleared by APC for the primary election but Senator Ojudu withdrew on Wednesday, leaving 32 aspirants in the race.

Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa, the chairman of the Primary Election Commission, commended the voters for their impressive turnout and conduct. he then declared Dr Fayemi the winner, who in his acceptance speech expressed great joy over his victory, stating that it was not just his but a collective victory for all the aspirants, the Ekiti people and for the APC as a whole.

Dr Fayemi said: “I am delighted to have won the party’s primary election and I am also happy because the delegates voted for me. It shows that they believe so much in my abilities to change the lives of the Ekiti people compared with what they are currently experiencing.

“All other aspirants ‎are my friends and colleagues and I am going to work with them to ensure that our great party emerges winner in the forthcoming gubernatorial election.”

He added that he was not on a vengeance mission against the government of Governor Fayose but had unfinished business in terms of bringing more development to the state. Dr Fayemi pleaded with delegates to forgive any of his past policies, which may have offended them while he was serving as governor of the state.