A member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hakeem Jamiu, has denied endorsing Boluwatife Fayose, son of former Ekiti governor Ayo Fayose, as a consensus candidate for the House of Assembly seat in Irepodun-Ifelodun Constituency II.
Mr Jamiu made the clarification in a statement on Monday following reports that he supported Mr Fayose during a constituency meeting held in Iworoko on March 14.
The lawmaker said he attended the meeting but did not take part in any endorsement and had stated his opposition to the arrangement.
According to him, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has not approved a consensus process for selecting candidates for state and national assembly primaries.
He said that at a stakeholders’ meeting held at Jibowu Hall in Government House, the party approved consensus arrangements only for chairmanship and councillorship positions.
“It is embarrassing for me as a sitting member of the House of Assembly to be invited to a constituency meeting in my constituency only to be conscripted by ambush into a pre-arranged consensus endorsement,” Jamiu said.
He added that the party had not released guidelines for the primaries that will determine candidates for the state and national assemblies.
Jamiu said he believes the party leadership will ensure internal democracy and allow aspirants to contest for the party’s ticket.
The lawmaker also said the meeting turned violent and alleged that a ward councillor pushed him and threatened his life.
He urged his supporters to ignore reports that he backed the endorsement and said consensus requires the agreement of all stakeholders.
Hakeem Jamiu added that he remains committed to due process and internal democracy in the party ahead of the primaries.
