A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and aspirant for the Ekiti North Senatorial District ticket, Senator Ayodele Arise, has rejected the outcome of the party’s recently concluded senatorial primary in Ekiti State, describing the exercise as a sham and calling on President Bola Tinubu and the party leadership to intervene.
Arise, who spoke with journalists in Abuja on Sunday, alleged that the primary election was marred by irregularities that undermined democratic principles and internal party democracy.
The APC Primary Election Committee had declared the incumbent senator representing Ekiti North Senatorial District, Senator Cyril Fasuyi, winner of the exercise. However, Arise, alongside other aspirants including Hon. Dipo Bamisaye and Dare Owolabi, has challenged the outcome, insisting that the process was manipulated and failed to reflect the will of party members.
The former lawmaker, who represented Ekiti North Senatorial District between 2007 and 2011, said the controversy surrounding the primary highlighted the persistent challenge of internal democracy within political parties.
According to him, having constitutional provisions and electoral guidelines means little if political actors circumvent them during candidate selection processes.
“When we talk about internal democracy, it is still a very big challenge. It is one thing to have a constitution and another for people to circumvent the provisions and guidelines governing elections. That was demonstrated during the primary election,” Arise said.
He disclosed that he participated in the contest despite anticipating irregularities because he wanted to expose what he described as entrenched flaws in the party’s internal electoral process.
“It will be a shame if some of us pass through this country and fail to speak out against these anomalies. If we want to practise democracy, then we should practise it genuinely,” he added.
Arise expressed confidence in the appeal panel established by the APC National Working Committee to review complaints arising from the primary, stating that he had submitted evidence to support his petition and remained optimistic that justice would prevail.
“I have placed the facts before those reviewing the election, and I believe there are still people of good conscience who know what is right,” he said.
The APC stalwart stressed the need for reforms aimed at strengthening internal democracy within political parties and preventing what he described as the imposition of candidates by powerful political figures.
He argued that democratic processes should determine who emerges as candidates rather than the preferences of individuals occupying influential positions.
“We want to see those whom the people genuinely want to represent them. Democracy should not be reduced to a situation where one person becomes an appointing authority,” he stated.
While acknowledging improvements in Nigeria’s electoral system over the years, Arise maintained that political parties must continue to improve their internal mechanisms in order to enhance credibility and restore public confidence in the democratic process.
He attributed many of the disputes that frequently trail party primaries to the significant influence wielded by serving governors over party structures.
“The issue of governors remains a major challenge. Even when you are not contesting directly against them, if you are not their preferred candidate, your chances become very slim,” he said.
According to him, the concentration of political and financial power in the hands of governors often enables them to exert undue influence over candidate selection and party decision-making processes.
Arise also criticised what he described as the growing influence of a political culture referred to as “the system,” where candidates are allegedly selected by entrenched interests rather than through transparent democratic competition.
“There is something they now call the system. They say the system has captured a particular candidate and that he is the one who will get the ticket. These are issues we need to address if we are serious about democracy,” he said.
The former senator further expressed concern that the Senate was increasingly being viewed as a retirement destination for governors seeking to retain political relevance after completing their tenure in office.
On President Tinubu’s Democracy Day address, Arise commended the President for what he described as a realistic assessment of the country’s challenges and achievements.
He said the speech reflected the administration’s commitment to addressing governance issues, strengthening democratic institutions and laying the foundation for sustainable national development.
“Mr. President has been proactive in fixing some of these challenges and ensuring that necessary corrections are made. In terms of laying the foundation for enduring democracy, he is doing well in showcasing achievements and articulating plans for national development,” Arise said.
He, however, insisted that efforts to deepen democracy would remain incomplete without credible and transparent primary elections within political parties, stressing that internal democracy remains critical to the overall growth and stability of Nigeria’s democratic system.
