SEN. AYO ARISE DRAGS APC TO COURT OVER EKITI NORTH SENATORIAL PRIMARY ELECTION
SEN. AYO ARISE DRAGS APC TO COURT OVER EKITI NORTH SENATORIAL PRIMARY ELECTION
A former senator and chieftain of the All progressives Congress, APC, Ayo Arise, who previously represented Ekiti North Senatorial District and aspirant in the just concluded All Progressive Congress (APC) National Assembly primaries, Senator Ayo Arise, has approached the court to challenge the outcome of the party’s senatorial primary, insisting that he lawfully won the exercise.
Speaking with newsmen during an interview in Ado-Ekiti, Arise said his decision to institute legal action immediately after the primary was informed by his understanding of the timelines stipulated by Nigeria’s electoral act, noting that he was not surprised when his name was eventually omitted from the list of party candidates.
According to him, the legal action is not driven by personal ambition but by the need to ensure that political parties comply with their own rules and uphold democratic principles.
Arise explained that he filed his suit within the legally prescribed period to avoid losing the opportunity to seek judicial intervention, arguing that waiting for subsequent announcements by the party would have rendered any legal action ineffective.
Arise maintained that many aspirants were misled into waiting for declarations by the party’s national leadership, despite provisions in the APC guidelines indicating how the primary process should be concluded.
He said the party’s actions were inconsistent with its own guidelines governing the conduct of the primary election.
His words, “I went ahead and filed my case in court because I knew what was coming. That is why I was not surprised at the outcome. This is not about me; it is about ensuring that we have a system that works for everybody”.
“I believe many people were carried away by statements that only the national officers could announce the winners, whereas the party guidelines clearly stated the procedure. There was more than met the eye, and I was careful not to fall into that trap.
“The court is now the arbiter. It will determine whether the guidelines released by the party were followed. Once rules are made, they must be obeyed. If they are violated, there must be a place where justice can be sought and that place is the court.
“My name was omitted. I wasn’t cleared despite presenting my complaints and evidence during the appeal process. For anyone not to see what happened, it must have been deliberate. There appeared to be a written script.
“The only thing I went to court for is the primary election that I won. We conducted the election, the results were announced at the appropriate level and I emerged victorious. The court will determine who is right.
“If anyone decides to file now, that person would already be out of time. My lawyer understood the law, and we filed within the required timeline.
“I believe there are men and women of integrity on the bench. I have confidence in the judiciary, and I believe I will get my ticket back because I won massively.
“We have a process and we are following it. Nobody should worry. I believe justice will prevail
