All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and aspirant for the Ekiti North Senatorial District ticket, Ayodele Arise, has described the party’s primary election as a sham.
Ayodele Arise also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently intervene in the crisis surrounding the outcome of the exercise.
In a statement issued over the weekend, Arise alleged that state governors played a significant role in undermining the conduct of the recent APC primaries.
The party’s election committee had earlier declared the sitting senator representing Ekiti North, Senator Cyril Fasuyi, as the winner of the contest.
However, Arise and other aspirants, including Dipo Bamisaye and Dare Owolabi, rejected the result, describing it as manipulated and fraudulent.
Arise, who previously represented the senatorial district between 2007 and 2011, insisted that the exercise fell short of internal democratic standards and accused the party of ignoring growing tensions generated by the process.
He said internal democracy remains a major challenge within political parties, stressing that constitutional provisions are often undermined during primary elections.
According to him, “When we talk about internal democracy, it is still a very big challenge. It’s one thing for us to have a Constitution; it’s another thing for people to try to circumvent it or the guidelines for any election.
“That was demonstrated in no small measure when I tried to come back through the primary because I knew what was in the pipeline, so I went into it to prove a point.”
Arise further expressed concern that unresolved disputes from the primaries could weaken party unity ahead of future elections.
He noted that while he believes the party leadership and President Tinubu are working to address internal challenges, urgent corrective measures are needed to restore confidence in the system.
He also alleged that governors remain a major obstacle for aspirants seeking Senate positions, claiming that political influence at the state level often determines outcomes.
“Even when you aren’t contesting against them, if you aren’t their favoured candidate, the chances of your making it are very challenging,” he said.
The APC primaries held last month across the country were widely reported to have been marred by controversies and disputes in several states.
