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The Chairman of the African Democratic Party (ADC) Governorship Primaries Election Committee, Senator Patricia Akwashiki, has declared Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Canada, Dare Bejide, as the winner of the patry’s ticket in Ekiti State.
Ambassador Bejide, former Secretary to the State Government in Ekiti State under Engineer Segun Oni’s administration gathered 15,466 votes to defeat four other contestants, including former Deputy Governor of Ekiti state Prof. Olusola Eleka who came second with 12,003 votes, while Femi Adegbite scored 9,141 votes, Emmanuel Fayose scored 2,865 votes and Ayodele Adesua scored 135 votes respectively.
In her speech , Senator Patricia Akwashiki, who announced the result before the INEC, Security Agencies and the media, said the Committee stepped down results from Emure, Ilejemeje and Oye Local Government as a result of irregularity.
She described the primary election in the state as very peaceful and praised the party members who came out in large numbers to participate in the election in all the 16 local governments across the state.
She however, condemned the activities of party members who came to disrupt the exercise at the collation centre and called for restraints.
She thanked the aspirants for their commitment to the party and urged aggrieved aspirants and members to take such complaints to the Appeal Committee that has been set up for that purpose.
She also thanked the Independent Electoral Commission, the security agencies and the media for their cooperation during the exercise.
The party in its response thanked the State Primary Election Committee, the INEC, Media and all the security agencies for the job done and promised to cooperate with the party stakeholders to resolve all disputes that may arise from the exercise.
Recall that some unsuspected political thugs stormed a popular Hotel in Ado-Ekiti where the collation process was going on, demanding cancellations of results from some Local Government Area.