The All Progressives Congress (APC) has disqualified one of its Ekiti State governorship aspirants, Mr Kayode Ojo, from contesting the party’s forthcoming primary election scheduled for October 27.
The decision was taken by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) at its meeting held on Thursday in Abuja, following the submission of the report of the screening committee set up to vet aspirants for the race.
Ojo’s disqualification comes weeks after another aspirant, Mrs Olajumoke Olawuni, was also dropped from the contest, leaving the incumbent governor, Abiodun Oyebanji, and Mrs Atinuke Omolayo as the only cleared aspirants for the party’s ticket.
Ojo, a businessman and prominent political figure in Ekiti State, has often been critical of the APC and had previously challenged its internal structures in the state.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, the APC National Secretary, Mr Duro Meseko, said the decision was aimed at ensuring discipline, cohesion, and stability within the party.
He explained that the NWC, after reviewing the screening committee’s report, cleared Oyebanji and Omolayo, while Ojo and Mrs Abimbola Olawumi were disqualified for failing to meet the constitutional and Electoral Act requirements.
“The disqualification of the two aspirants was predicated on the fact that their filings did not conform with the provisions of the APC Constitution and the Electoral Act.
The NWC deliberated extensively on the screening report and reached this decision in the interest of due process and fairness,” Meseko stated.
Ojo, who also serves as the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), was initially given provisional clearance pending the NWC’s final decision. His clearance was withheld after petitions alleged irregularities in his nomination process, particularly his failure to secure the required number of valid nominators per Local Government Area as stipulated in Article 9(1) of the APC Constitution and Section 177(c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
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In a related development, Meseko announced the dissolution of the party’s Enugu State Working Committee due to persistent factionalisation and internal disunity that had crippled its operations in the state.
“The party’s Enugu State chapter has unfortunately been embroiled in deep divisions for a long time. In spite of several reconciliation efforts, the situation only worsened.
The NWC therefore resolved to dissolve the executive and set up a caretaker committee to reposition the party for progress and stability,” he added.
A seven-member caretaker committee has been constituted with Dr Ben Nwoye as Chairman and Eugene Odo as Secretary. Other members include Mrs Fidelia Njoeze, Peter Chime, Dr Obi Aji, Dr Chidozie Nwafo, and Mr Iman Eke. The committee will be inaugurated on October 10.
Meseko also revealed that the party’s Bisi Akande-led National Reconciliation Committee would soon be inaugurated, while the Constitution Amendment Committee would begin public hearings across the geo-political zones later this month.
He further disclosed that preparations were underway for the forthcoming congresses and governorship elections in Anambra and Osun States, with the sale of nomination forms for the Osun poll expected to commence on October 20.
Meseko assured that the APC remained committed to fairness, transparency, and internal democracy, noting that all decisions were taken in line with the party’s Constitution and President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda for inclusive governance.
