By Obadero Olanipekun
It is no longer news that the APC Ekiti State National Assembly Primary Election Panel declared the primary election for Ekiti North I (Ikole/Oye) Federal Constituency inconclusive following petitions reportedly arising from Erelu Kemi Elebute-Halle, who claimed that there were irregularities in her Ward 10 in Ikole Local Government Area. Former House of Representatives member, Hon. Bimbo Daramola, also reportedly petitioned the panel, alleging that Rep. Akintunde Rotimi Jr. announced himself winner of the exercise, despite the absence of any verifiable evidence or public record to support the claim.
The decision of the panel to declare the exercise inconclusive has, however, not altered the widespread view among close watchers of the contest that the final outcome would eventually be resolved in favour of the incumbent lawmaker based on the overwhelming evidence from the conduct of the election across the constituency.
Observers who monitored and reported the exercise insist that Rep. Rotimi recorded a commanding lead in the primary election, winning convincingly across the wards in Ikole and Oye local government areas, with video evidence showing that the primaries were validly conducted and concluded in the constituency. It was therefore surprising to many stakeholders and observers when the process was subsequently declared inconclusive.
Journalists who covered the exercise had, in fact, projected the incumbent as the clear winner based on results collated from the various wards and the visible margin of support recorded throughout the constituency.
Many political analysts have also pointed out that, even without prejudice to the eventual findings of the election panel, the voting strength of Ward 10 in Ikole alone is insufficient to alter the overall outcome of the primary election, considering the scale of Rep. Rotimi’s showing across the constituency. According to party stakeholders, even under the most generous mathematical assumptions in favour of the petitioner, the margin established by the incumbent remains difficult to overturn.
The strong performance of Rep. Rotimi in the primaries has largely been attributed to the widespread support he enjoyed from party stakeholders across Ekiti State ahead of the election.
Only days before the exercise, a major endorsement gathering was held in Ilupeju-Ekiti, where chairmen of all eight local governments and Local Council Development Areas in Ekiti State, councillors, ward chairmen, women leaders, youth leaders, and other critical stakeholders of the APC publicly endorsed the lawmaker’s return bid.
The endorsement meeting was widely interpreted as a decisive political statement reflecting the confidence of the APC structure in Rep. Rotimi’s representation and leadership within the constituency.
In addition, the race had begun to narrow before the primaries after three aspirants — Chief Mrs. Funke Owoseni, Mr. Kayode Omoboya, and Barr. Yemi Ayodele Ayeni — reportedly stepped down and endorsed the incumbent. Engr. Olaoluwa Dawodu had also reportedly stepped down and opted not to obtain the nomination form, further consolidating support around the incumbent.
The election itself was keenly contested, with notable aspirants including former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Bimbo Daramola; Erelu Kemi Elebute-Halle; Mr. Gbenga Joseph; Prince Ayorinde Ejioyo; and Engr. Ayo Omotosho participating in the exercise.
However, Prince Ayorinde Ejioyo and Engr. Ayo Omotosho had also publicly congratulated Rep. Rotimi after the election was concluded, with the result widely projected in his favour.
Meanwhile, supporters of Rep. Rotimi have dismissed allegations making the rounds in some quarters that the lawmaker “self-declared” victory in the aftermath of the exercise.
According to them, there is no record on any of Rep. Rotimi’s official communication platforms indicating such a declaration. They insist that the allegation is entirely unsubstantiated and unsupported by any verifiable evidence.
Attention has also been drawn to reports circulated by a platform known as “Ekiti Reformer,” which attempted to portray the outcome of the primaries as a political defeat for Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, alleging that Rep. Rotimi defeated the Governor’s candidate.
Party stakeholders have described this narrative contained in the now-deleted posts as false, mischievous, and potentially divisive, designed to create unnecessary tension between the lawmaker and his benefactor, the Governor. However, insiders maintain that the lawmaker has consistently and publicly expressed support for the Governor and has also noted after the exercise that his strong showing at the primary was only possible with the broad support of the party structure in the state, of which the Governor is the leader. They further argue that the narrative lacks coherence, noting that if the Governor had a preferred candidate in the race, it would have been Rep. Rotimi.
According to insiders within the APC, Governor Oyebanji maintained neutrality throughout the process. However, they note that the broader APC structure across the state, with the Governor as its leader, openly worked in support of Rep. Rotimi’s candidacy, largely due to his performance in office, accessibility to constituents, and growing influence within the National Assembly as Spokesman of the House of Representatives.
For many constituents across Ikole and Oye Federal Constituency, the expectation now is that the APC Election Panel will eventually affirm what they describe as the clearly expressed will of party members at the primaries.
Until then, political observers continue to regard Rep. Akintunde Rotimi Jr. as the candidate with the clearest mandate from one of the most closely watched House of Representatives primary elections in Ekiti State.
Obadero Olanipekun writes from Ikole-Ekiti.