There was a mild drama at the Presidential Villa, on Monday, as Abdullahi Adamu, national chairman of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), led governors to present governor-elect of Ekiti State, Abayomi Oyebanji, to President Muhammadu Buhari.
Journalists had accosted Adamu to seek clarifications on the inclusion of Ahmad Lawan, the Senate president, among the candidates submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the APC to contest the 2023 senatorial seat, in his state, Yobe.
There have been reports that Lawan, who contested for the APC presidential ticket won by Bola Tinubu on June 6, 2022, did not participate in the senatorial primaries in Yobe.
The clarifications became necessary as the reported winner of the Yobe North Senatorial seat in APC, Bashir Machina, denied handing over his ticket to Lawan. Machina had insisted that he would not surrender the ticket to Lawan, saying that the senator would not have contested the party’s presidential primary if he had the ambition of returning to the Senate.
At the expiration of the Friday, June 27, 2022 deadline for the submission of names of presidential and national assembly candidates, Machina’s name was substituted with that of Lawan as the “Senatorial candidate” for the Yobe North.
Whereas section 29(1) of the 2022 Electoral Act, as amended, provides that political parties shall submit names of their candidates, not later than 180 days before the date appointed for the general election, Section 31 of the Act also gives the political parties an opportunity to withdraw and substitute their candidates, not later than 90 days before the election
Section 31 states that “A candidate may withdraw his candidature by notice in writing signed by the candidate to the political party that nominated him for such election and the political party shall covey such withdrawal to INEC not later than 90 days to the election”
But Adamu responded thus: “Don’t get yourself in the court of law. Is it that you were told or they are saying it?
When reminded that he is the leader of the party and should therefore give the public the proper information, Adamu again retorted “I don’t have time for negativities; I don’t just have time for that. If you face me with positives, I have time for all of that. I will stand here and answer all of your questions”
Read also: Reps congratulate INEC on successful conduct of Ekiti governorship election
When asked if it is true that Lawan was submitted instead of Machina, he replied, “I cannot respond to every speculation, particularly when they are negative and from mischief-makers.”
Meanwhile, a statement by the special adviser to President Buhari on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, said “the joy of electoral victory was savoured at State House, Abuja, Monday, as Buhari received governor-elect of Ekiti State, Oyebanji, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The statement quoted the president as saying that he keenly followed the polls held on Saturday, June 18, and was delighted with the orderly conduct, and the way the electorate and security agencies comported themselves.
“I loved how the APC governors mobilised, and supported you,” the president told Oyebanji. “I think the party is very lucky, and things are getting better. I congratulate the chairman, and I pray you sustain it.”
Adamu ascribed the victory at the Ekiti to God and pledged that same would be replicated in Osun State next month.
Oyebanji on his part lauded the president “for the leadership and the level-playing field you provided,” adding that he would be magnanimous in victory, as earlier admonished by the president.
