A group, Concerned Okun Youth Forum on Tuesday called on the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to urgently intervene over the alleged moves to impose Senator Smart Adeyemi on the people of Kogi West senatorial district.
The group also called on the national leadership of the APC to ensure level playing ground for all aspirants seeking to actualise their political ambitions under the party’s platform in the Kogi West senatorial district.
National chairman of the group, Comrade Omosona Olakunle who addressed newsmen in Lokoja said the said the alleged endorsement of Senator Adeyemi by Governor Yahaya Bello was already generating disquiet amongst stakeholders and supporters of the party in the district, hence the need for urgent intervention before the party begins to witness mass defections.
According to him, the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Matthew Kolawole alongside some appointees of Governor Yahaya Bello from Kogi West senatorial district had on Sunday September 2, told a gathering of aspirants and other gladiators at the Government House in Lokoja that the governor has endorsed Adeyemi for Kogi West Senate, urging other aspirants to work with him.
He said decision was at variance with the earlier assurance given by the governor through his Director General on Media and Publicity, Kingsley Fanwo that he (Bello) would ensure a level playing ground for all aspirants and wouldn’t impose any candidate.According to him, the development apart from dampening the morale of APC supporters and aspirants in the senatorial district would also “give the opposition party the leeway to take undue advantage of our party (APC) if not addressed”.
The group called on governor Yahaya Bello to come out clear on his position and stand over the said endorsement of Senator Adeyemi.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Matthew Kolawole has said that leaders and stakeholders of the APC from Kogi West senatorial district were projecting the candidacy of Senator Smart Adeyemi for the 2019 senatorial elections because of his legislative experience and capacity to deliver.
Kolawole, who was reacting to the discordant tunes that trailed the decision, however clarified that the development did any way bar other interested persons in Kogi West district from buying forms to contest the party’s primaries.
He argued that Senator Adeyemi apart from being a two-term and high ranking senator, still remains one of the best senators so far produced by Kogi West going by his impacts in terms of human capital and grassroots development.
Kolawole denied the allegations that Governor Yahaya Bello was out to impose Senator Adeyemi on the people, adding that the Kogi West APC stakeholders collectively took the decision in view of the need to have a candidate that can represent the district well.
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