The internal strife within the All Progressives Congress in Ekiti North Senatorial District has escalated following the party’s primary election. Former Senator Ayodele Arise, along with Dare Owolabi, has openly challenged the results declared by the APC Senatorial Primary Election Committee, accusing the committee of rigging and inflating figures. Incumbent Senator Cyril Fasuyi, however, has dismissed these allegations, urging his opponents to concede graciously.
According to the official declaration, Senator Fasuyi secured 14,179 votes, while Senator Arise garnered 4,868. Other aspirants, Dipo Bamisaye and Dare Owolabi, received 3,694 and 2,836 votes respectively. But Arise and Owolabi claim the announced totals are fraudulent. Arise asserts that based on results from 33 wards where voting was completed, he led with 8,687 votes against Fasuyi’s 7,755 before the process was disrupted.
Arise further alleged that election officials abandoned 12 wards when it became clear he was ahead, and that officials did not show up in 10 other wards. He also pointed out that the total votes announced exceed the registered APC membership in the district, calling the figures mathematically impossible. Specifically, he cited Iludun I Ward in Ilejemeje Local Government Area, where he claims his votes were reduced in the final tally. “I won the election and I have proof. I was rigged out by the system. The result does not represent the wish of the people. What happened yesterday was fraught with irregularities, fraud, violence and intimidation,” Arise stated.
Owolabi echoed these sentiments, demanding the primary be annulled due to widespread irregularities. “The election is not fair and there were a lot of irregularities across different local governments, wards and units. We know our people, we know what they did, we know how people voted for us, and we know our people were terrorized and chased out of the venues,” he said. Despite his grievances, he urged supporters to remain calm and focus on the upcoming governorship election.
In response, Senator Fasuyi refuted all accusations, attributing his victory to his strong grassroots support and performance in office. He appealed to Arise to accept the outcome in the interest of party unity. “I want to appeal to a respected leader of our great party, Senator Arise, to accept the outcome of the primary election in good faith and join hands with us to move the party forward,” he said. As the incumbent and Director-General of Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s re-election campaign, Fasuyi questioned why anyone would expect him to lose. He maintained that the primary was conducted according to APC guidelines and urged all aggrieved members to unite for the June 20 governorship poll and the 2027 general election.