A former secretary to the Ekiti state government (SSG), Biodun Oyebanji, has won the All Progressives Congress governorship primaries held on Thursday.
Oyebanji polled 101,703 votes, while his closest challengers; Ojo Kayode had 767, Opeyemi Bamidele had 760 and Dayo Adeyeye polled 691 votes.
Returning officer of the election, Governor Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa state announced the results amidst protests.
Oyebanji was chief of staff to Kayode Fayemi, the incumbent governor, in his first term.
Oyebanji is believed to have the backing of Fayemi and Adebayo.
Seven other aspirants had accused Fayemi of hijacking the process to give advantage to Oyebanji.
Opeyemi Bamidele, senator representing Ekiti central, had earlier asked the APC to cancel the primary election.
Bamidele alleged that those on the primary election committee are aides of Fayemi, who are working to ensure that Oyebanji gets the party’s ticket.
Subsequently, seven governorship aspirants — including Bamidele — expressed dissatisfaction with the process, saying the exercise would not be fair.
The aspirants — Kayode Mojo, Demola Popoola, Femi Bamisile, Bamidele Faparusi, Dayo Adeyeye and Afolabi Oluwasola — alleged that the primary election committee is made up of loyalists of the Ekiti governor.
Despite the calls for cancellation, the Ekiti chapter of the APC said the exercise would go on as scheduled, insisting that there was a level-playing field for all.
