Ekiti Rep aspirant condemns detention of supporters
An All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant for the House of Representatives in Ekiti State, Barrister Victor Olumuyiwa Kolade, has condemned the alleged attacks and detention of his supporters ahead of the party’s primary election. Kolade, who is seeking to represent Ekiti Central Federal Constituency II (comprising Ijero, Efon, and Ekiti West local government areas), alleged […]
An All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant for the House of Representatives in Ekiti State, Barrister Victor Olumuyiwa Kolade, has condemned the alleged attacks and detention of his supporters ahead of the party’s primary election.
Kolade, who is seeking to represent Ekiti Central Federal Constituency II (comprising Ijero, Efon, and Ekiti West local government areas), alleged that several of his supporters in Ipole-Iloro were attacked and detained after being accused of “disobeying party supremacy.”
Speaking during an interaction with the Correspondents’ Chapel in Ado-Ekiti, Barrister Kolade affirmed his readiness for the party’s primary and decried attempts by certain political interests to suppress dissenting voices within the APC.
He called for a level playing field, warning against those brandishing Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s name to claim status as “anointed candidates.”
The aspirant claimed that his followers were invited by members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) following a petition written against them for refusing to support a purported preferred candidate.
He further alleged that the detained supporters were compelled to sign affidavits pledging loyalty to the rival candidate as a condition for their release.
Kolade questioned the legality of such actions, insisting that choosing an aspirant to support is a constitutional right and not a criminal offence.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the APC in Ekiti State, Segun Dipe, dismissed claims that the party or Governor Biodun Oyebanji had endorsed any specific aspirant ahead of the National Assembly elections.