…Former senator raises concerns over Ekiti North primary process
Former Senator representing Ekiti North Senatorial District, Ayodele Arise, has expressed confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will ensure justice in complaints arising from the recent All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primaries.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja at the weekend, Arise said he remained optimistic that the party’s leadership and internal appeal mechanisms would address grievances stemming from the exercise.
The APC primary committee had declared the incumbent senator representing the district, Cyril Fasuyi, winner of the contest. However, Arise and some other aspirants have challenged the outcome, alleging irregularities in the conduct of the primary.
Despite his concerns over the process, Arise said he believed President Tinubu remained committed to deepening internal democracy and strengthening democratic practices within the ruling party.
According to him, efforts are already underway to resolve issues raised by aggrieved party members, noting that the APC National Chairman had briefed the President on challenges encountered during the primaries.
Arise expressed confidence that the party would give due consideration to legitimate complaints and ensure that justice prevails for deserving aspirants.
“When we talk about internal democracy, it is still a very big challenge. It is one thing to have a constitution and another thing for people to circumvent its provisions and the guidelines for elections,” he said.
He added: “I believe the chairman of the party has spoken with Mr President, and I think they are looking at all the challenges. I am sure those of us who worked and won our elections will be given our mandate in due course.”
Arise said he had formally presented his case before the party’s appeal panel and expressed faith in its ability to deliver a fair verdict.
“I have put the facts on the table and presented them to those reviewing the election. I believe we still have men of good conscience at the helm of affairs in this country who know what is right,” he stated.
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The former lawmaker called for reforms that would deepen internal democracy and prevent the concentration of influence in the hands of a few political actors.
According to him, political parties must continue to improve their processes to ensure that candidates emerge through transparent and credible means.
“We want to showcase the best in our country and demonstrate that we understand what democracy is all about. We want to see the people whom voters genuinely want to represent them,” he said.
Arise, however, commended the steady progress made in Nigeria’s democratic journey over the years, noting that electoral reforms had significantly improved the country’s political system.
“There are so many things that have improved in our electoral process over the past 27 years. As we discover problems, people respond to them, and I believe that more than anybody else, our President has been very proactive in fixing some of these challenges and ensuring corrections are made before it is too late,” he said.
The APC chieftain also linked many of the disputes arising from party primaries to the growing influence of state governors in determining candidates for elective offices.
He argued that internal party processes would become more credible if greater emphasis was placed on the wishes of party members and grassroots voters.
On President Tinubu’s Democracy Day address, Arise described the speech as reassuring and reflective of the administration’s commitment to national development.
According to him, the President’s message provided Nigerians with a realistic assessment of ongoing reforms and highlighted achievements recorded so far.
“I looked at the speech. It is a speech of encouragement to Nigerians and a speech of reality, letting us know that things do not happen as quickly as we expect,” he said.
He added that the President had continued to demonstrate commitment to laying enduring foundations for democracy while pursuing programmes aimed at accelerating national development.
“In terms of laying the foundation for enduring democracy, I think Mr President is doing very well in showcasing some of his achievements and some of the things he has planned for the development of this country,” Arise said.
