A member of the House of Representatives representing Ekiti North Federal Constituency 2, Akinlayo Kolawole, has rejected the outcome of Saturday’s All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election in the constituency, describing the declared result as inconsistent with the will of party delegates and supporters.
The APC returning officer, Banjo Adedoyin, announced that former National Assembly member Ibrahim Olarewaju won the primary with 6,856 votes. Kolawole scored 2,102 votes, while other aspirants, Omole Samson and Ayodeji Dada, polled 1,322 and 2,896 votes respectively.
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Special Duties, Kunle Adetifa, Kolawole insisted that the announced figures did not reflect the votes freely cast during the exercise. He alleged that the process failed to meet standards of transparency, fairness, and due process expected in a credible primary election.
The lawmaker called on the APC national leadership and relevant electoral authorities to review the conduct and outcome of the primary. He urged the party to ensure that what he described as the true outcome of the election is upheld in line with democratic principles and party guidelines.
Kolawole also appealed to his supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding while efforts are made to challenge the result through lawful means. He maintained that his campaign enjoyed strong grassroots support and expressed confidence that a transparent collation process would confirm his mandate in the constituency.