EKITI 2018: Fayemi’s candidacy under threat as Oni challenges his victory in court

Segun Oni, a governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, is challenging the victory of Kayode Fayemi, former minister of mines and steel development, as the party’s flagbearer for the July 14 governorship poll.

Oni filed a suit at a Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge Fayemi who polled a total of 941 votes at the primary which held on May 12, defeating him, his closest rival, by a margin of over 460 votes.

Oni is asking has the court to determine if it was proper for Fayemi to contest without resigning as a member of the federal cabinet. Fayemi had only resigned on May 30 after winning the primary.

Oni asked the court to determine if Fayemi’s action did not violate the Nigerian constitution and the guidelines of the ruling party.

The suit was filed on his behalf by Gani Faniyi, his counsel.

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“Whether by virtue of All Progressives Congress constitution and particularly Articles 2 and 5 of All Progressive Congress 2014 Guidelines for the nomination of candidates for public office as applicable to the A.P.C Governorship primaries conducted on the 12th May, 2018, the 1st Defendant being a serving member of the Federal Executive and Federal Minister of Solid Minerals, Mines and Steel Development having not resigned his appointment as a member of Federal Executive and Minister of Solid Mineral, Mines and Steel Development, at all or at least 30 days to the said primaries election of 12th May, 2018 was qualified to contest and participate in the said All Progressive Congress Governorship primaries of 12th May, 2018 as an aspirant in that election,” the document read.

“Whether by virtue of All Progressive Congress Constitution and particularly Articles 2 and 5 of All Progressive Congress 2014 Guidelines for the nomination of candidates for public office as applicable to the A.P.C Governorship primaries conducted on the 12th May, 2018, at Damilek Event Centre, Ado-Ekiti for the purpose of determining or nominating the 2nd Defendant candidate for the 12th July Ekiti State Governorship election, the 1st Defendant having being indicted by Rtd. Hon. Justice Oyewole Judicial Panel of Enquiry was qualified to contest and participate in the said All Progressives Congress Governorship primary of 12th May, 2018 as an aspirant in that election.”

Among the reliefs Oni is seeking are: “A declaration that the claimant (Oni) having scored 481 votes which is the majority of lawful and valid votes at the 2nd Defendant (APC) the 12th May, 2018 A.P.C Governorship primaries election for the purpose of determining the 2nd Defendant’s candidate for the 14th July 2018 election for the office of Governor Ekiti State is the person that was validly nominated by the 2nd Defendant for the 14th July, 2018 election for the office of Governor, Ekiti state.”

This will come as a surprise to some since peace moves by the APC after the primaries had pointed to a united front.

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