The Action Peoples Party (APP) in Ekiti State has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to change its governorship candidate for the June 18 election.
Chairman Moses Awogbemi, at a news conference yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, said the party decided to change its candidate following a court judgment. According to him, the national leadership had communicated to INEC the change in candidate from the earlier published by the electoral body.
He explained that the state High Court sitting in Ido-Ekiti had given an order for INEC to recognise Adeyinka Alli as the candidate, and Christiana Olatawura as his running mate, expressing regret that INEC is yet to comply with the judicial pronouncement.
Awogbemi warned that should INEC proceed with the election without the APP participating, the outcome would remain a nullity.
He added: “We have followed the guidelines in the changing of names of our candidate and deputy from the national level that gave us the direction before 90 days now.
Read Also:
“We had our primary election on January 26, monitored by INEC officials and security agencies, where Christiana Olatawura emerged as the party’s candidate. But after due consultations and meetings by the leaders, we agreed to change our governorship candidate and deputy so we can put up a good fight at the poll.
“We did the needful by forwarding the name of the new governorship candidate and the former candidate’s withdrawal letter to the commission but, unfortunately INEC, did not effect it. We approached the Ekiti State High Court in Ido-Ekiti, presided by Justice J.A Apuabi, to seek redress. The court agreed with us and ordered last week that INEC should publish names of the new candidates – Adeyinka Alli as governorship candidate and Olatawura as deputy governorship candidate.
“We believe that by May 19, the final list of candidates will be published by INEC, and we are optimistic that it will be changed to Alli. If that doesn’t happen, the court will take it up. However, if the commission fails to publish our new candidate, the June 18 election will be invalid, null and void.”
On why the party made the changes, Awogbemi said the party realised the need for APP to field a younger candidate that would appeal to youthful voters towards winning the election.
