A governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has said that the just concluded primary election of the ruling party was devoid of transparency and fairness.

Bamidele declared that the results announced were based on “concocted and fictitious vote counts”.

The federal lawmaker, who thanked his supporters for the overwhelming support, vowed to seek redress on the outcome of the primaries.

“To the glory of God, I have fought quite a number of battles in my life based on my sense of indignation to injustice; but I had never been this resolved to stand up and challenge principalities and powers in utmost determination to defeat darkness and make the light of Ekiti and her people shine again,” Bamidele said.

The immediate past Secretary to Ekiti State Government, Biodun Oyebanji, had emerged the winner of the direct primary election held in the state last Thursday.

Oyebanji, who was Governor Kayode Fayemi’s preferred candidate, was declared winner with 101,703 votes to defeat other seven aspirants who had earlier protested and called for the cancellation of the primary election.

However, Senator Bamidele, in a statement made available to The Star, said the level of impunity and desperation which marred the APC primary election was high as he was allotted 760 votes in a state where he had over 94,000 votes in one out of three senatorial districts to emerge a Senator in 2019.

Bamidele, who is the Senator representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District, further alleged that he was allotted 150 votes in Ado Ekiti where he had 28,000 votes out of the 42,000 votes garnered in 2011 to become the House of Representatives member representing Ado/Irepodun-Ifelodun Federal Constituency.

He stated: “I would like to thank my teeming supporters, family, loving kinsmen, distinguished colleagues, friends, loved ones, my party elders and members of Team MOB., destiny helpers from all walks of life and the Think Tank Vision group for their unflinching support in our preparations for the gubernatorial primaries scheduled to hold on Thursday, 27th January 2022.

“I, most specially, appreciate your acts of selfless service, commitment of resources, time and efforts to ensure victory for us at the primaries.

“However, rather unfortunately, the process of conducting these primaries was hijacked, truncated, compromised and bastardised by those at the helm of affairs in Ekiti State, which is tantamount to a complete abuse of trust and leadership.

“Judging from a critical assessment of our campaign strategy by positively reaching out to our people in all nooks and crannies of Ekiti State to push our progressive message, I had no doubt in my mind that we were coasting to victory had the process been transparent and fair.

“It is public knowledge that no primary election took place on Thursday, 27th January, 2022 but yet, rather disappointedly, results were announced based on concocted and fictitious vote counts.

“The underlining level of impunity, desperation and perfidy which characterized the entire rigging process was so much and thought beclouding that I was allotted 700 plus votes in a state-wide gubernatorial primary election in a state where I had scored over 94,000 votes in just one out of three Senatorial Districts to emerge as a Senator. This was less than three years ago and after then I had done much more to earn the confidence and greater love of the people through effective representation on the floor of the Senate as well as life touching empowerment programmes and constituency development projects.

“More specifically, the breakdown of the votes allotted to me indicated that I got 150 votes in Ado Ekiti, my beloved second home where I had recorded 28,000 votes out of the 42,000 votes that gave me the House of Representatives mandate way back in year 2011 to represent Ado/Irepodun-Ifelodun Federal Constituency.

“But we will remain resolute, strong, focused and faithful in the face of this impunity, total lack of regard for the electoral due process and executive rascality by a chosen few who were elected to represent the interests of Ekiti people.”

The governorship aspirant added that he would take immediate steps within the confines of the APC constitution “and the law to seek redress for this blatant abuse of trust and due process by the state actors.”

Bamidele, therefore, enjoined his supporters to remain calm and prayerful, adding that justice and truth will prevail for the benefit of Ekiti people.

“So whilst on this quest to seek an amicable resolution to this impasse, I urge all to remain calm and prayerful that justice and truth will prevail for the benefit of the people of Ekiti.

“Once again I say a very big thank you from the bottom of my heart for a battle well fought, a strategy well executed and a message well delivered but as children of God, in all things, we must give thanks. For we believe God will take control.

“To the glory of God, I have fought quite a number of battles in my life based on my sense of indignation to injustice; but I had never been this resolved to stand up and challenge principalities and powers in utmost determination to defeat darkness and make the light of Ekiti and her people shine again,” Bamidele said.