By Ekiti 2018: APC Guber Aspirant Express Worry Over Anointed Candidate By Party
By, Uchechukwu Ugboaja – Abuja
The ongoing screening of Ekiti gubernatorial candidates for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) seem to be marred in mild controversy as some candidates have raised concern over suspicion of an anointed candidate. One of the aspirants who expressed this fear is a Senator of the 6th Assembly, Senator Ayo Arise who described it as a potential disaster for the party if confirmed to be true.
Speaking exclusively to Uchechukwu Ugboaja at the venue of the screening, the Senator warned that any attempt to favour any candidate ahead of the primaries will be dangerous for the party going into the gubernatorial elections. According to him, “Although we are starting the process late, I raised the issue of this issue of favouring a particular candidate and so I made it clear that there is apprehension but once the process is free and fair the party will win the election in Ekiti state, but if is the otherwise I would say the party should forget about its chances in the state.”
The Senator from Ekiti North, warned that there are over 33 candidates vying for the sole slot means that the party needs to ensure that the entire process is transparent so that the right candidate would easily emerge.
He further stated that his opinion should be considered more as an advice rather than a condition as the party prepares to slog it out against the ruling PDP in the only non-APC held South-West state.
In his view, among the crop of candidates out here today on paper outside those who are former governors, he considers himself the most experienced candidate and this is because he believed that he has proved his mettle in the Senate.
The Hon. Minister of Solid Minerals, Mines and Steel Dr. Kayode Fayemi who was spotted at the screening venue declined to respond to alleged apprehension over him emerging as the party’s anointed candidate for the guber election slated for June.
Senator Ayo Arise Ekiti APC Guber aspirant 2018.
