Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado-Ekiti
A former Senator representing Ekiti North Senatorial District, Ayo Arise, has asked the court to determine whether the All Progressives Congress (APC) complied with its own guidelines in the conduct of the party’s senatorial primary, insisting that the process was flawed.
Arise, who contested the APC National Assembly primary for the Ekiti North Senatorial ticket, said he approached the court immediately after the exercise because he believed the party failed to follow the rules governing the conduct of the primary.
Speaking in an interview in Ado-Ekiti, the former lawmaker maintained that he emerged victorious in the primary election and expressed confidence that the court would restore his mandate.
He explained that his decision to institute legal action without waiting for the party’s final declaration was informed by the provisions of the Electoral Act, noting that any delay could have rendered his case statute-barred.
According to him, the suit was aimed at compelling political parties to respect their own rules and strengthen internal democracy.
He alleged that many aspirants were misled into believing only the party’s national leadership could declare the winner, whereas the APC guidelines clearly outlined the procedure for announcing results.
“I went ahead and filed my case in court because I knew what was coming. That is why I was not surprised when my name was omitted. This is not just about me; it is about ensuring that we have a system that works for everybody,” he said.
Arise further alleged that despite presenting his complaints and supporting evidence during the party’s appeal process, his petition was ignored.
“My name was omitted. I wasn’t cleared despite presenting my complaints and evidence during the appeal process. For anyone not to see what happened, it must have been deliberate. There appeared to be a written script,” he said.