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Ekiti guber: Direct or indirect primary won’t stop me -Sen Bamidele
Opeyemi Bamidele
Governorship aspirant in the next year’s governorship election in Ekiti State, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele has declared that direct or indirect primary will stop him from becoming the candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC in Ekiti state in 2022.
Senator Bamidele, who presently represents Ekiti Central District in the National Assembly and chairs the Southern Senators Forum, said he is coming on board with something usual.
He spoke in Abuja when the Ekiti Concerned Professionals led by Lekan Ajisafe presented expression of interest nomination cheque of N22.5million to him.
“As to my own aspirations in Ekiti, I have no doubt that whether it is direct primary or it is indirect primary you know, I stand a good chance by the grace of God to win the primary.
“I know that I am loved by the people of Ekiti State and I know that my own aspiration goes beyond pasting posters on the walls in Ekiti, because I am a poster that is already posted on the minds of the people of Ekiti State.
“And I’m looking forward to a very decent governorship race, a race that is popular, a race that is decent, a race that is driven by ideas and on issues and a race that is violence-free.
“We have in place a governor who is well educated, who is respected by all, who understands the language of democracy and development, who I also know will ensure that there is an atmosphere for everybody to aspire and I believe that Ekiti has become a cynosure of all eyes in this country and a lot of people are interested in what is about to happen in Ekiti,” he stressed.
Senator Bamidele, who is also the chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, added that the signing of Electoral Act (Amendment Bil) which contains direct primary is not about the National Assembly or President Muhammadu Bihari, but about Nigerians who are yearning for free and fair election.
He said: “At the end of the day, it is not about the National Assembly, or any individual or institution. It is about the people of Nigeria, our democracy, the survival of same and the growth of same.
“It’s about moving Nigeria forward, those who felt strongly about the idea of putting a clause in our proposed electoral bill to guarantee direct primary as a method of choosing candidates of political parties meant well for the country.
“Some of those who are trying to oppose it, some of them also have logical arguments. Regardless of who posited what, who was opposed to what, the National Assembly has passed a bill in that regard, and the bill is waiting Presidential assent.
“I want to believe that the President also meant very well for Nigeria, he will take a decision he believes is in the best interest of Nigerians and he believes is in the best interest of our democracy and whatever decision he decides, he chooses to take, I’m sure he will also back it up with reasons which Nigerians will also look into.”
Speaking earlier, the leader of the group described Senator Bamidele as a tested hand who they are confident that will move the state forward considering his experience in the legislative, judiciary and executive srms of government.
According to Ajisafe, the governorship aspirant is capable of turning the state for better considering his experience in politics and governance.
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