The hope of the camp of the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, a contender to the All Progressive Congress, APC, governorship ticket in Ekiti State to harvest delegates’ votes at the party’s primary holding tomorrow has been further dashed.
Sources at Friday’s meeting between the aspirants and APC primary election committee, headed by the Nasarawa State Governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura revealed that those in attendance overwhelmingly opposed the idea of delegates bringing their phones into the polling cubicle.
They expressed disapproval to anything that could tarnish the credibility of the party and the exercise, while advising that only a transparent and mutually acceptable process could guarantee a rancor-free outcome of electing a candidate for the APC on Saturday.
Aspirants were categorical that the integrity of the exercise as a secret ballot would no longer be valid, if delegates or anyone could snap their ballot with the intention of later showing the aspirant they voted for.
The panic in the camp is however not unconnected with the expectation to induce voters with certain promised financial reward.
Reliable sources said the minister had earlier paid loyal voters N20,000 with a promise to disburse additional N50,000 to each of them on Thursday but this did not happen as those invited to celebrate the ‘birthday’ of Erelu Bisi Fayemi, the minister’s wife, left disappointed when no payment was made.
However, they were promised another whoppo=ing sum of N500,000 each at the end of the exercise. Over 2,600 delegates will elect the APC governorship candidate on Saturday.
Already, the camp of the former governor is unsettled as delegates are said to be reluctant to embrace his ambition, fearing that his emergence at the primaries may spell doom for the party at the governorship polls in July.
There are tensions on Thursday when the Minister organized buses from Oyo State to convey voters to a camp in neighbouring Akure, Ondo state where he intends to influence their votes.
Sensing the plot, some delegates escaped from the scene fearing they could be made to go the extra mile of oath swearing. Those that confided in us wondered why the desperation could reach such an embarrassing level for the former governor who had boasted that he was the most popular among the aspirants.
Meanwhile, the Secretary and Returning Officer in the Saturday polls, Mr. Mogaji who was fingered as a close ally of the minister has been forced to withdraw from conducting the primaries. His disengagement was not unconnected with doubts around his neutrality.