- Former Governor Kayode Fayemi has dismissed rumors of preferred candidates, urging APC members to ignore claims of secret endorsements for the 2027 National Assembly seats.
- Fayemi emphasized that direct primaries remain the most transparent method for selecting candidates, ensuring that “aboriginal” party members maintain control over the party’s future.
- Current elective officeholders have been challenged to rely on their track records of achievement rather than seeking shortcuts through leadership endorsements.
Former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has called on members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across the state to maintain the integrity of the party’s internal democracy.
Speaking at an APC stakeholders meeting in Isan Ekiti on Saturday, Eko Hot Blog learnt that Fayemi addressed growing concerns and rumors regarding the purported endorsement of certain National Assembly aspirants for the 2027 general elections.
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He stated categorically that the party must adhere to the Electoral Act, which provides for consensus and direct election modes, noting that consensus is only valid when every stakeholder is in total agreement.
Fayemi expressed a firm stance on the preservation of the party’s identity, particularly concerning new entrants. While acknowledging that there is nothing wrong with new members joining the fold, he cautioned against allowing “tenants” to seize control of the party from “aboriginal” members who built the APC in Ekiti State.
He stressed that proper processes must be followed for integration and leadership, ensuring that the party’s foundational principles are not undermined by those seeking to bypass established democratic norms.
The former governor’s remarks come amidst speculations that Governor Biodun Oyebanji and other top party leaders had already handpicked preferred candidates for the three senatorial and six House of Representatives positions in the state.
Fayemi challenged any serious aspirant to be prepared to face a direct primary, suggesting that fear of such a process indicates a lack of confidence in one’s own performance.
He urged all current officeholders to be ready to present their achievements to the people as their primary credential for seeking re-election or higher office.
Supporting this position, the State APC Chairman, Sola Elesin, issued a statement in Ado Ekiti confirming that Governor Oyebanji has no preferred candidates and has not endorsed anyone for the upcoming National Assembly races.
Elesin described the endorsement rumors as a misrepresentation of the Governor’s office and reaffirmed that the APC remains a democratic party committed to free and fair competition.
The party leadership has warned aspirants against “name-dropping” or any attempts to undermine the democratic process through false claims of official backing.
Fayemi concluded by emphasizing the need for strict adherence to the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act to avoid unnecessary and costly litigation following the primaries.
By insisting on a level playing field, the party aims to emerge stronger and more unified ahead of the 2027 elections.
The call for direct primaries is seen as a move to return power to the grassroots members, ensuring that the eventual candidates carry the genuine mandate of the party’s rank and file.
