Akinlayo Kolawole, a member of the House of Representatives who represents Ekiti North Federal Constituency 2, has rejected the outcome of the All Progressives Congress primary election held in his district on Saturday.
As he sought for a review by the party’s national leadership, Kolawole, who is running for the party’s return ticket in the race, claimed that the outcome declared by returning officer Banjo Adedoyin was “inconsistent with the actual will of the electorate.”
Ibrahim Olarewaju, a former member of the National Assembly, received 6,856 votes to win the Ado Ekiti election, according to Adedoyin, who announced the results on Sunday. Kolawole received 2,102 votes, Omole Samson received 1,322, and Ayodeji Dada received 2,896.
“The announced outcome does not reflect the votes freely cast by delegates and party faithful across the constituency,” the legislator said in a statement released on Monday by his Special Assistant on Special Duties, Kunle Adetifa.
The congressman therefore urged the APC leadership and the appropriate 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.”
According to Kolawole, “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 lawmaker 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” and claimed that his campaign was based on broad grassroots support.
Assuring them that every legal measure will be taken to safeguard their mandate and maintain the integrity of the democratic process, he asked his supporters “to remain calm, law-abiding, and steadfast.”
