All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders in the South-West have restated their support for the party’s gubernatorial candidate in the July 14 Ekiti Governorship election, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and condemned a court case allegedly instituted by one of the defeated aspirants of the party in the state, Chief Segun Oni.

They said the decision to support Fayemi was reached through a combination of persuasion, reconciliation, consensus-building and understanding on the part of all the stakeholders, pointing out that they, as leaders, held several intervention meetings in Abuja, Lagos and Ekiti with all the APC Ekiti gubernatorial aspirants where they resolved to support whoever emerges from the party’s primaries.

Condemning the court case which they described as spurious, the leaders asked those behind the court action to withdraw their case immediately “if they are within our party and not agents of PDP”.

They also called on Segun Oni to come out publicly to dissociate himself from and condemn the case and play active role in the APC campaign.

The statement was signed by APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, former Interim Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, the newly-elected APC Deputy National Chairman (South), Otunba Niyi Adebayo and the party's former National Vice Chairman, South-West, Chief Pius Akinyelure.

Entitled “We Stand Behind Kayode Fayemi”, the statement reads: “The Ekiti Governorship Election slated for July 14, 2018, is barely three weeks away and we all are committed to working for the total victory of the APC candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

“The decision to support Kayode Fayemi was reached through a combination of persuasion, reconciliation, consensus-building and understanding on the part of all the stakeholders. We led several intervention meetings that held in Abuja, Lagos and Ekiti with all the APC Ekiti gubernatorial aspirants where we resolved to support whoever emerges from the May primaries.

“We have stood behind Kayode Fayemi’s candidacy since he won the governorship primaries and when we all gathered in Ekiti for the Mega Rally on June 19, it was an emphatic declaration of support for his candidacy. Again on the night of June 19, we as leaders met with all stakeholders including all former aspirants and commended them for not defecting from the party. They all emphasised their commitment and suggested that Kayode Fayemi run an effective and inclusive campaign that will ultimately lead to an all-inclusive government.

“We have been consistent in our position working to ensure victory for the APC candidate, we are therefore surprised to find out through media channels about plans to challenge Kayode Fayemi’s candidacy on spurious grounds.

“Furthermore, it is worrisome that a court action against Kayode Fayemi and our party is alleged by media reports to be instituted by Chief Segun Oni, which from our investigations is being sponsored by some unknown persons.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we the undersigned leaders remain solidly behind the candidacy of Kayode Fayemi knowing full well he has fulfilled all necessary requirements for the election as the candidate of our party.

“We have forged a common front even as we are irrevocably committed to our party’s victory come July 14, 2018. Nothing should be allowed to undermine our party’s victory in the upcoming election.

“We, therefore, demand that the sponsors of the court action withdraw their case immediately if they are within our party and not agents of PDP. We also request that Segun Oni should also come out publicly to dissociate himself from and condemn the case and play active role in the APC campaign.”

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