Former Governor of Ekiti State, Chief Segun Oni, has congratulated his co-contestant, Dr. Kayode John Fayemi, on his victory in Saturday’s All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary in the state.
Oni spoke just as other aspirants, Opeyemi Bamidele and former Speaker of the state, Femi Bamisile, also congratulated the winner and called on other aspirants to work together with him in the interest of the Party at the coming election.
Fayemi polled 941 votes to beat Oni, who polled 481 votes to push the fresher Kayode Ojo to the surprising third position with his 245 votes. Femi Bamisile scored 171 votes to emerge fourth and Oluyede Oluwole went home with 110 votes to do with fifth position out of the 32 Aspirants that contested.
Chief Oni vowed not to leave APC because of his loss and promised to give Fayemi his support to win the governorship election.
It will be recalled Governor Ayodele Fayose spoke in the aftermath of the APC’s primaries saying the Fayemi should not rejoice yet as, according to him, he will suffer the worst and more defeat at the gubernatorial election outing when the day comes. Fayose’s confidence for issuing that statement was premised on what he described as a victory that had only created enemies for him from among his co-contestants.
Segun Oni, a major factor in the Ekiti politics, is a co-contestant to Fayemi and he said he would not only ensure Fayemi wins but that he will also encourage while he will never leave the Party because of his loss.
“I am a party person, I will not only support him (Fayemi), I will encourage him. I don’t have any intention of leaving the APC,” Oni said.
Another aspirant, Opeyemi Bamidele, also described Fayemi as a consummate politician with vast experience in administration, being a former governor and serving minister, exuding confidence that the minister would deliver and “bring the lost glory of the party back in the coming election.”
Bamidele, in a statement he personally signed by him said, “Let me salute the former governor and Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi for this sweet victory. With the body languages of all the aspirants, it was evident that your victory was acceptable and grudge-free.
“The foregoing signposted that the APC is a party with unique operations among the political parties in Nigeria.”
While congratulating Fayemi on his emergence, another aspirant and former speaker of the State House of Assembly, Femi Bamisile called on other aspirants and supporters of the party to come together in one interest in order to secure victory for the party in the July 14 election.
Bamisile said, “ I can vouch for the capacity of our candidate. He is experienced and has the network required to lead us to the Promised Land.”
“Within the next 48 hours, I shall meet with our party’s flag bearer to make donations in terms of campaign souvenirs, financial supports and other required logistics towards ensuring that it is victory assured.”
A chieftain of the party in the state , Kolawole Akinlayo has also felicitated with Dr Fayemi over his victory at the party’s governorship primary election, saying ,” this is a reward for consistency, diligence and hard work.”
The Ekiti governorship election will hold July 14.
