– The governor said the APC has hired thugs to attack opposition during the primaries – The APC replied, describing the governor’s accusation as laughable Ekiti state governor, Ayo Fayose, has accused the opposition party, All Progressives Congress (APC) of plotting to disrupt the governorship primary election of the Peoples Democratic Congress (PDP) slated for Tuesday, May 8. Fayose, while reacting to the aborted governorship primary of the APC held on Saturday, said the party is plotting to create violence at the PDP primaries. He said: “Another worrisome development is the information at my disposal that the APC is plotting to sponsor thugs to disrupt the PDP primary scheduled for Tuesday, May 8, 2018, so as to create the impression that violence is common to all political parties.
“I therefore call on security agencies to act decisively to nip this sinister plan in the bud. The police should not shy away from their responsibilities. Ekiti was adjudged by the police as the most peaceful state in Nigeria, it must remain so. “In the last three years, our state has been peaceful and never witnessed any sponsored political violence or killing until this APC’s desperation set in.
“I also call on Nigerians, as well as the international community to focus their attention on Ekiti State from now on. Ekiti people must be allowed to choose their next governor under a free and fair atmosphere. “I am alarmed by the violent disruption of the All Progressives Congress governorship primary in Ekiti state yesterday (Saturday), most importantly its implications for the July 14 election. “What was witnessed yesterday (Saturday) was a show of shame. It is a sad day for democracy in Nigeria, especially from a party in government that prides itself as the progressive.
“It is a clear indication that the APC will fail woefully in the July 14 governorship election because apart from its rejection by Ekiti people, the party has become a house divided against itself, its centre can never hold. “We thought that we had gone beyond the era of ballot box stuffing and snatching as well as violence and killings during elections until yesterday’s show of shame.” However, responding to the governor’s accusation, the Chairman of the APC in Ekiti state, Jide Awe, said the governor’s accusation is laughable. He said: “It is laughable. He should not look for any alibi. If there will be disruption of the primary, it will be his own making. We will not have anything to do with the PDP and he should not meddle in our own affairs too.”
The exercise was stalled as a result of the tensed environment which forced security personnel shooting sporadically to calm nerves and ensure peace. The primary election was later suspended indefinitely.
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