The All Progressives Congress, APC, Elders’ Forum in Ekiti State has appealed to former Governor Segun Oni to withdraw the suit challenging the eligibility of the governor-elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, for the July 14 governorship election.

The APC elders came out with the position at a meeting held in Igbara Odo, Ekiti Southwest Local Government Area.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting and made available to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, the APC elders said the withdrawal of the case by Oni and his group will facilitate an out-of-court settlement.

The communiqué signed by their Chairman, Chief George Akosile, and the Secretary, Chief Abiodun Ajayi, read in part, “The Ekiti State APC Elders’ Forum at its meeting held on Wednesday, 29th August, 2018 under its Chairman, Asiwaju George Akosile, at Igbara Odo Ekiti, having reviewed the various steps taken by the Forum on the above subject matter including the following:

*Sending of a five (5)-man delegation with a letter to Asiwaju Segun Oni appealing for the withdrawal of the case from the Court

*Invitation and meeting with the representatives of Asiwaju Segun Oni at Igbara Odo, Ekiti

*Sending a memo to the Governor-elect as to reconcile the aggrieved group with a view to withdrawing the case from Court and their inclusion in the scheme of things in the forthcoming administration in Ekiti State, from our findings, the Elders’ Forum is aware that the case is still pending in the Federal High Court, Abuja.

“We hereby wish to appeal to Asiwaju Segun Oni and his group to withdraw the case from the Federal High Court, Abuja as to facilitate an out-of-court settlement in the interest of the APC Family in Ekiti State, in particular, and Nigeria in general.”

In the suit, Oni is urging the court to nullify Fayemi’s candidacy on the grounds that he (Fayemi) did not resign from his position as a Minister of Mines and Steel Development 30 days before the APC primary.

Fayemi won the APC governorship primary held on May 12 in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, by polling a total of 941 votes beating Oni, who scored 481 votes to the second place and 31 other aspirants

Oni also stated that Fayemi was not qualified to contest in the primary on the grounds that he was indicted and barred from holding a public office by the Ekiti State Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by Governor Ayodele Fayose. – Punch

– Aug. 31, 2018 @ 16:55 GMT |