Copyright tribuneonlineng
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former member representing Emure/Gbonyin/Ekiti East federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Bamidele Faparusi, has assured that the APC will not violate the Electoral Law or any other Nigerian law for that matter if Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji is picked by consensus in the party’s governorship primary today. Faparusi, who also served as Commissioner for Public Utilities in the state, said in an interview that “even in our party›s constitution, there is a clause for consensus as a means of picking party›s candidates. For me, consensus is the best means of choosing candidates. “So, consensus aligns with the electoral law, since it is enshrined in our party›s constitution. Take a look at the second term of President Muhammadu Buhari. He emerged through consensus because nobody challenged him in the primary. Consensus is not antithetical to democratic norms.” On the disqualification of governorship aspirants in the party, Faparusi explained that “two aspirants were disqualified, and advised that those affected must see it as not the end but a temporary setback for their aspiration. “The NWC is the second highest organ of the party and on this matter, they have the final say and every party man must abide by it, including the disqualified persons. That was not the first time this will be happening. I want to sincerely believe that those disqualified are party men and women who will take the decision of the NWC in good faith and join hands to move the party forward. Today may be bad for them; they should look at tomorrow and the larger picture. Tomorrow may also favour them.” According to him, APC in Ekiti State remained united, saying “because we are united, the nucleus and leadership of the party led by H.E Otunba Niyi Adebayo backed by H.E Dr John Kayode Fayemi speaks with one voice unlike other parties that lack direction and internal cohesion. “Our party is also well entrenched at the grassroots; the foundation of APC in Ekiti State is solidly laid from the election units, not even from the wards. No party in the state has that structure which APC has and the political bigwigs that we have. So anytime any day, our party will always deliver in any election.” Speaking on the threat posed by the opposition political parties in the state, he said the opposition had not been this weak in Ekiti State, but noted that “experience has shown that you should not underrate anybody or any party, no matter how weak.” Faparusi said: “The political school of thought of our supreme leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, taught us to use sledge hammer to kill an ant. Even though we are solidly on ground and the opposition has never been this weak in Ekiti State, as a party, we believe in our minds that the opposition is strong. So in the 2026 governorship election, our preparations will be aggressive and decisive, leaving nothing to chances. We are not going to be complacent at all.” Speaking in the same vein regarding the 2027 presidential election, Faparusi said “We are not expecting the election to be easy,” and noted that “only a neophyte and inexperienced person will think that it will be easy.” He said: “No election is easy anywhere. If you look at the performance of the president and the political permutations in the country, there is no way President Tinubu will not win the 2027 election. Where is the alternative political structure that can upstage APC? None. Not even PDP in its shattered state, not ADC in its infantile and childish state. Nigerians should wait, 2026 Ekiti governorship election of Gov Oyebanji will send a signal of how the 2027 presidential election of President Tinubu will be.”
