APC primary: Ekiti Rep rejects election results, seeks review

House of Representatives member representing Ekiti North Federal Constituency 2, Akinlayo Kolawole, has rejected the result of Saturday’s All Progressives Congress primary election in his constituency. Kolawole, who, in the election, is seeking the party’s return ticket, showed that by the returning officer, Banjo Adedoyin, was “inconsistent with the actual will of the electorate” as he called for a review by the party’s national leadership. Adedoyin had, while announcing the result of the election in Ado Ekiti on Sunday, indicated that a former National Assembly member, Ibrahim Olarewaju, polled 6,856 votes to emerge as the winner, while Kolawole scored 2,102 votes, Omole Samson 1,322 votes, and Ayodeji Dada 2,896 votes.

Through an official release by his Special Assistant on Special Duties, Kunle Adetifa, on Monday, the lawmaker rejected the result, saying, “outcome does not reflect the votes freely cast by delegates and party faithful across the constituency”. Consequently, the lawmaker called on the APC leadership and the relevant electoral authorities “to intervene, review the process, and ensure that the true outcome of the election is upheld in line with party guidelines and democratic norms”.

Kolawole outlined that “the process leading to the result declaration fell short of the principles of transparency, fairness, and due process expected of a credible party primarily”. The federal legislator, who showed that his campaign was built on widespread grassroots support, expressed confidence that “a free, fair, and transparent collation would affirm the mandate given to him by the people of Ekiti North Federal Constituency 2”.

He urged his supporters “to remain calm, law-abiding, and steadfast”, assuring them that every lawful step would be taken to protect their mandate and preserve the integrity of the electoral process.