In solidarity, 21 senators of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday accompanied the Chairman, Southern Senators’ Forum, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, to the National Secretariat of the ruling party.

Their mission: Opeyemi was to pick the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms to contest the 2022 governorship election in Ekiti State.

Apart from federal lawmakers who showed solidarity at the National Secretariat of the party, APC leaders across 16 local government areas of Ekiti State and cultural groups were ably represented to stand with Bamidele in his quest for the governorship seat.

Among the 21 Senators that followed Bamidele to the APC National Secretariat are Smart Adeyemi, Abdullahi Sabi, Ibrahim Oloriegbe, Frank Ibezim, Fatai Buhari, Uba Sani, Tolu Odebiyi, Tokunbo Abiru, Bima Enagi, Oseni Yakubu, Lola Ashiru and others.

Addressing newsmen after picking his forms, Bamidele said he knows Ekiti more than anyone else that has signified interest in the race.

Bamidele, Chairman of Senate Committee on Judiciary and Human Rights, said Governor Kayode Fayemi deserves a worthy successor like him.

Bamidele, a senator representing Ekiti Central in the National Assembly, who said that he is the right man to succeed Fayemi, promised to build on his legacy if elected as the next governor of the state.

He added that if given the opportunity, he would not only build on Fayemi’s legacy, but take the state to the next level and ensure better life for its people.

“I must say that Ekiti is today led by a governor who understands the language of internal democracy and party politics.

“Fayemi and his administration have done so well and so much for Ekiti.

“His administration deserves to have a worthy and well-focussed successor who will not only protect the legacies of our party and the administration in Ekiti, but will also build upon, and take the state to the very next level of development,” he said.

Speaking on his relationship with Fayemi, Bamidele said he enjoys a cordial with the governor.

He described as name droppers, those speculating that a particular aspirant had been anointed by the incumbent governor.

According to him, the governor has not declared support for any aspirant.

“I know Governor Fayemi well enough and I believe I do. I don’t see him coming out at any point to support any aspirant.

“Even if I were to be his chosen candidate or anointed candidate, the best he can do is to have sympathy for me, he still would not have raised my hand to say this is the anointed candidate,” Bamidele said.

He added that if elected as the state next governor, he would bring value to the state and ensure its development.

“I am not contesting this election because I feel I am the only one who can add value in Ekiti.

“I am in this race because I’m convinced that more than anyone else, I know Ekiti like no one does among those of us who have indicated interest in being governor.

“I know the workings of government in the three arms like no one does among those of us that are aspiring.

“I have what it takes to lead a state like Ekiti at a time like this when everyone who has a scientific understanding of what is wrong and what needs to be done, needs to come forward and present himself,” he said.

He added that he had opportunities and had been exposed in the three arms of government.

He said, “One, as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and as an Attorney and council at law in the state of New York in the United States.

“All of these in the last 30 years have given me the opportunity to network extensively within the judicial arm of government.”