By Dayo Oguntuase
The recent Electoral Law signed by President Muhammadu Buhari has made it mandatory for political parties in the country to always take decisive actions to ensure that popular candidates are fielded for elections.
The new Electoral Law had further fortified the Independent National Electoral Commission to take some actions that would rejuvenate and fortify the electoral system. Now, it can deregister weak parties and trim down the hitherto weedy and crowded political space for Nigerians to easily make the right choice in any political contest.
With the new Law, INEC can now fully digitalise its operations and the conduct of elections. Smart Card readers and BVAS ICT initiatives have now been fully captured and recognised by Law.
The electoral malfeasance in the facets of result falsification and declaration of phantom figures are no longer possible, while the monster of federal might and incumbency power had been demystified. Putting it succinctly, the electorate are now more elevated and empowered for the fact that their votes would count and can’t be subverted under any guise.
This is why as a staunch and loyal member of the APC, the party shouldn’t take the electorate for granted in the 2023 National Assembly elections in Ekiti State. Our party must learn how to field popular and grassroots politicians respected and who share affinity with the locals for the Senatorial and House of Representatives elections to be easy grab.
Having a retrospect of what transpired in 2019, the party can’t shy away from fact that it has regretted some of the decisions taken at that time with the Calibre of people it threw up for the National Assembly polls.
Most painful of these was the choice made for the people in Oye/Ikole Federal constituency with the emergence of Hon Peter Owolabi. Without being immodest, his performance in the last three years has not been rewarding and this odious scenario calls for a change of baton for the APC not to lose the federal constituency to the opposition.
However, the constituents are particularly elated that there are politicians from that extraction showing interest to challenge the incumbent in the primary. The people are patiently waiting for a respite and it would be calamitous for APC to make a similar mistake in 2023, as the backlash would be fatal going by the anger and mood of the constituents.
Among those that had indicated interest are : The current occupant of the seat, Hon Peter Owolabi , a serving Special Adviser to Governor Kayode Fayemi, Mr Osca Seyi Ayeleso, Fayemi’s Special Adviser on Road Project, and Hon Rufus Sunday Adunmo.
Others are: Former House of Representatives member, Hon. Bimbo Daramola ,serving lawmaker representing Ikole constituency 2, Hon Adeoye Aribasoye, a Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Strategic Communications, Mr. Akin Rotimi, an assembly member, Hon Gboyega Aribisogan , Mr. Odunayo Ayeni, Mr. Tayo Adebiyi, Engr Ayo Omotoso and Otunba Ajayi.
How they stand:
OSCA SEYI AYELESO
OSCA as fondly called hails from Ilupeju Ekiti, in Oye axis of the federal constituency. He is indisputably one of the trusted allies of governor Fayemi. He is from the corporate world with little understanding of politics. Though, he is a Special Adviser, but bereft of the requisite political clout to win election. He is also from the same local government with Governor Fayemi . Is sparse and feeble political clout and coming from the same axis with the governor has dimmed his chances.
RUFUS ADUNMO:
Adunmo hails from Ilupeju Ekiti in Oye Local government Area. A former member, House of Assembly. He is also a trusted ally of the governor. Currently serving as a Special Adviser. He is strong politically and highly experienced. Adunmo is rated as a tested and trusted politician . He is also seen as a generous individual, who loves helping people. He never disappointed the party when he was elected an assembly member in 2007 under Engr Segun Oni. He never defected to the PDP making him a core loyal party man. Though he is from the governor’s local government.
AKIN ROTIMI
He is from Odo- Ayedun Ekiti in Ikole LG. Currently a Senior Special Assistant to the governor. Rotimi is a cerebral technocrat in government and a trusted ally of the governor. But he is an unknown person with no visible popularity and relevance to win election in the area. He is largely perceived as an outsider despite that he had done some projects to help the people. He needs to exercise patience and wait for his time, which is practically not 2023.
PETER OWOLABI
He is the current occupier of the seat. Highly rated to be close to Fayemi and has a deep purse and strong financial war chest to win the primary. Also from a densely populated Ikole town. But people are accusing him of plundering the opportunity given to him for a first term. He is considered too aloof to be given a second chance. It will be a miracle for him to win reelection.
BIMBO DARAMOLA
Highly experienced and cerebral politician. Considered a strong, ebullient and vociferous personality with widespread political clout, having represented the federal constituency in the past. He was close to Fayemi before things went awry between them. No longer considered a trusted ally of the governor that controls the lever of power and this will be his greatest undoing in the primary apart from coming from Oye LG that presently occupies the governorship seat.
ADEOYE ARIBASOYE
He is from Odo- Ayedun Ekiti from Ikole LG. Currently a member of the House of Assembly and a close confidant of the governor. He is one of the young Turks from the progressive fold. A Brilliant, bold and strong personality. His performance in his present position is considered a blessing by his people. He is popular and politically experienced to win election. He is acceptable to the party people and leaders. Being a Lawyer is also another advantage as a legislator. Though, his town is considered small in terms of votes delivery, but his popularity across board may help him shore up the votes for APC if given the ticket. He is one of the few Fayemi’s disciples who stood by him through thick and thin. He also understands APC and its history.
ODUNAYO AYENI
Odunayo Ayeni is from Asin, Ward 01 , in Ikole LG. He is a former Legislative Assistant to Senator Sola Adeyeye (Osun Central) in the Senate. He is a close ally of Governor Fayemi, but this would not be suffice to help him. He is unknown to the party people and he musters no political strength to defeat the array of stars competing with him.
HON. GBOYEGA ARIBISOGAN
He is the current Majority leader of the Ekiti State House of Assembly representing Ikole constituency 1. Aribisogan hails from Ijesa Isu considered to be strategic to election in the council. He is a cerebral individual with fairly strong political clout. But he is not perceived as a core progressive being a PDP defector. He was once an ally of former Governor Ayodele Fayose and people thought he can easily return to his former party if APC leaders disagree with him after winning the House of representatives seat . Aribisogan can be considered for other positions outside House of Representatives deemed to be less sensitive to APC .
TAYO ADEBIYI
Tayo Adebiyi, is from Itaji Ekiti in Oye LG. He became popular in Ekiti on June 1, 2018 when his police orderly shot Michael Opeyemi Bamidele while campaigning for Fayemi’s reelection. Grabbing the ticket would be an uphill task being practically unknown to his constituents.
AYO OMOTOSO
Ayo Omotoso is from Itapa Ekiti in Oye LG. He is an Engineer by Profession. Also a member of Pro-Tinubu body called SWAGA . His political leaning may be his greatest undoing apart from being unpopular in the axis.
OTUNBA AJAYI
Otunba Ajayi is from Odo Oro in Ikole LG. He is being largely tagged a JJC by constituents. He is based in America with little or no knowledge of home politics. Grabbing the ticket will be a miracle, because the party and constituents perceive him as a stranger.
Oguntuase writes from Ikole-Ekiti