Exclusive: Ojudu, Oni lead 30 Ekiti aspirants, Fayemi others cleared

--Ex-Governor fights disqualification in court

By Oluwole Cole

Radical journalist, Senator Babafemi Ojudu has emerged as the leading figure out of the 33 All Progressives Congress, (APC) aspirants screened this week. His mark is triled by Chief Segun Oni.



Irohinoodua was informed that three APC aspirants, Mr Victor Kolade, Mr Coker and Mrs Matesun were disqualified by the screening committee led by former Baylesa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva.



The former Deputy Chairman of the APC, (South West) Chief Segun Oni came second.

The candidates’ position was weighed on the scale of the candidate best suited to win the gubernatorial election based on popular acceptance. The committee had earlier received reports from intelligence community on Ekiti which had done a diligent and non-partisan investigation on the strength and weaknesses of each candidate beyond the mass euphoria of populism and media hype.



An impeccable source told Irohinoodua that the committee had earlier disqualified the former governor of Ekiti-State, Dr Kayode Fayemi. The source said the committee faced a fierce debate on Fayemi prompting the members to adjourn his case to today. The legal adviser of the party, Mr Muiz Banire is expected to file in legal opinion on the eligibility of Dr Fayemi’s at another meeting slated for tomorrow.



An official of the Abuja High Court, a lawyer close to the screening process told Irohinoodua that Dr Fayemi has been cleared. He said “After undergoing a grueling screening process yesterday, Dr Kayode Fayemi, former governor and Minister has been cleared.”

He said his examination was controversial due to a decisive split among committee members. The information of possible disqualification filtered to the Fayemi group who rushed to obtain a notice of appeal from the court. The committee chairman was said to have said “My hands are tied.”

The lawyer who does not wish to be named said “After a heated debate he was disqualified but the Committee was asked to reconvene today when a legal notice of appeal was received from him. It is believed that a member of the Committee close to him leaked the Committee decision to him. The Committee on receiving the court document had to reverse itself and agreed to clear him but decided on writing an advisory memo to the party on the danger of picking him.”

Top party members from the North were said to have expressed apprehension over the prospect of presenting a candidate that may lose the May 4 poll, describing the Ekiti election as critical to the Presidential poll especially in the context of South West geo-political balance.