By Oludamisi Ojo.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the June 18 election, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has said that all the aspirants that contested against him are his own and leaders.
He said their contributions are required for the party to win in the forthcoming poll.
Oyebanji particularly described Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Femi Bamisile, Dayo Adeyeye, Bamidele Faparusi, and others who contested the primary with him as brothers, whose utmost aim is to see APC united and winning elections despite noticeable challenges.
It would be recalled that since the conduct of the primary on January 27, the seven aspirants that contested against Oyebanji, had openly expressed disgust over the primary, which they described as a charade.
At a ‘thank you visit’ to Ikole, Oye, Ilejemeje, Moba, and Ido-Osi Local Governments, on Tuesday, Oyebanji said these party bigwigs won’t be alienated or neglected as the party prepares for the poll in view of their relevance in APC.
He affirmed that he had reached out to his ‘brothers and friends” who contested the election with him and they have agreed to support him as loyal party members to win the election.
The APC governorship Aspirant however said,” Perhaps there are some of their followers who are yet to be pacified, we want to use this opportunity to appeal to their friends in our midst to talk to such people and incorporate them fully into the system”.
Oyebanji stressed that the campaign for the election had not started according to INEC guidelines, but noted that the visit was to appreciate all members of the party for their support during the just concluded primary election.
His words” I am here today, first to fulfill the promise I made during the build-up to the primary that I would come and show appreciation. Secondly, this visit is a follow-up to the reconciliation parley we had with other aspirants who partook in the exercise.
“I have said at different fora, that those who contested with me are loyal members of our party, who have only expressed their constitutional rights. We are all one and their followers are our party members as well. We must not discriminate as we need everybody to win on June 18,”
Oyebanji expressed the need for members of the party to go back to the wards and work with the party leadership.
He urged the APC supporters across the State to close ranks with supporters of other aspirants in the January 27 primary election and members of other parties willing to join APC ahead of the election.
The leader of the team and Chairman, Ekiti State Local Government Service Commission, Chief Alaba Bejide, hailed the party members for their support during the primary election and urged them to make sure they get their PVC before June 18 in order to be able to vote for Oyebanji.
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He described the primary election as a phase while the coming campaign is another phase, but noted that the biggest assignment before them is the June 18 election.
According to him” It is through the election we would be able to use our votes to elect Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji as Governor of Ekiti State”.
Also speaking, a former Chairman of the Party in the state, High Chief Jide Awe, who supported Oyebanji’s position urged those willing to work for Oyebanji’s victory to go back to their wards and mobilize members to get PVC as well as participate in the electioneering.
Awe maintained that all hands must be on deck for the success of the party at the governorship poll.
