By Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
A leading aspirant for the Ekiti North Senatorial District seat, Senator Ayo Arise, has rejected claims of an alleged preferred candidate ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary, insisting that only due process can determine the party’s flag bearer.
The position was made known through the Director General of the Ayo Arise Campaign Organisation, Hon. George Fadipe, during a series of political engagements across the district.
Fadipe described reports of a pre-determined candidate as false and misleading, noting that such narratives were being peddled to create undue advantage and cover weak grassroots support.
“The party constitution and the Electoral Act clearly spell out the process for the emergence of candidates. Any attempt to bypass due process is unrealistic and unacceptable,” he said.
He reassured party members and supporters that the Arise campaign remains committed to democratic principles and would not be deterred by intimidation or political speculation.
Fadipe also highlighted the growing support for Arise across the district, attributing it to his track record and previous performance as senator between 2011 and 2015.
According to him, one of Arise’s landmark achievements remains the facilitation of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, which he said has significantly boosted socio-economic development in the area.
Also speaking, a former two-term chairman of Oye Local Government and Ifeloju Local Council Development Area, Comrade Babatunde Ogunmilugba, urged party members to remain focused and not be swayed by unverified claims.
He expressed confidence in Arise’s leadership capacity and reiterated the importance of grassroots mobilisation in determining the outcome of the primary.
The development comes amid intensified political activities in Ekiti North, as aspirants continue consultations and engagements ahead of the APC primary election.