Boluwatife Fayose, the son of the former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has emerged as the consensus candidate of the Irepodun-Ifelodun constituency II.
Addressing supporters on Monday, he said that he joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) because of his admiration for the incumbent governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji.
He said this while addressing APC leaders and members in Irepodun/Ifelodun State Constituency II after he was confirmed as the party’s consensus candidate for the State House of Assembly seat in Iworoko, Ekiti State.
According to him, joining the APC was a personal decision and not influenced by his father.
He was presented to party leaders by the APC leadership from Afao Ward after the party resolved that the Assembly ticket for the constituency would be zoned to the ward.
Meanwhile, Hon Hakeem Jamilu, the incumbent lawmaker representing Irepodun-Ifelodun constituency II has denied claims that he endorsed the younger Fayose in a consensus as a consensus candidate for the constituency’s assembly seat.
Boluwatife is the son of Ayodele Fayose, the former Ekiti state governor
Reports had circulated online saying that Jamiu was among stakeholders who backed Fayose during a constituency meeting held in Iworoko on March 14.
But in a statement issued on Monday, the lawmaker said although he attended the meeting, he did not participate in any endorsement and had openly opposed the alleged consensus arraignment
He added that no meeting had been held to extend the arrangement to legislative seats.
“It is embarrassing for me as a sitting member of the House of Assembly to be invited to a constituency meeting in my constituency only to be conscripted by ambush into a pre-arranged consensus endorsement,” he said
Jamiu described the alleged endorsement as “premature and preposterous,” noting that the party had yet to release official guidelines for the primaries that would determine candidates for state and national assemblies.
He said he was confident the APC national leadership would ensure internal democracy and provide a level playing field for all aspirants seeking the party’s ticket.
The lawmaker also alleged that the meeting turned violent, claiming he was assaulted by a ward councillor who pushed and rough-handled him while allegedly threatening his life.
He urged his supporters to disregard reports suggesting that he was part of the endorsement, insisting that consensus requires the agreement of all stakeholders.
Jamiu added that he remains committed to due process and internal democracy within the party ahead of the forthcoming primaries.
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