The Future of Ekiti APC

The exit of the Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the ruling party will change the dynamics and permutations of the state’s politics especially ahead of the 2015 general elections. The party’s loss at the June 21, 2014 governorship election to the Peoples Democratic Party ,PDP, came to many as a surprise. Consequently, governorship polls will not hold in the state next year but elections into the Senate, House of Representatives and state House of Assembly, will be held. Fayemi: Mine is a legacy of service Fayemi: Mine is a legacy of service Many reasons have been adduced for the defeat suffered by the outgoing governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, even as analysts opine that APC governed the state in dignified ways. Though Fayemi has said he had no apology for all he did in government but next year’s election will be a litmus test for the state chapter of APC under Fayemi’s leadership. As it is customary in Nigeria’s politics, parties defeated at the governorship polls are usually burdened by the inability to secure victory in subsequent elections. In 2003, when Fayose defeated the incumbent governor, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, he subsequently led his party to win all the elective positions in the state. The same feat was recorded when the Appeal Court ruled in favour of Fayemi in 2010. With the 2015 polls around the corner, observers are waiting to see whether the PDP would coast home to victory or allow the APC retain its stronghold. The APC, though, has majority of Federal and state legislators, it will have to contend with Fayose’s growing popularity. Expectedly, the incoming governor would want to ensure that his party wins all elective positions in 2015. However, the future of the party may be bleak if its leadership failed to put its house in order to avoid mass exodus. History has shown that mass defection to any winning party from the opposition is usually witnessed in this kind of scenario. The APC National Assembly and state legislators will leave no stone unturned to retain their seats. The Ekiti APC Chairman, Chief Jide Awe, sensing urgent need to reassure the people that the party would continue to galvanize and mobilise to reclaim the state, said “victory is certain.” He said: “Fayemi has rescued a lot of projects from the jaw of stomach infrastructure to have made them real social infrastructure. To us in the APC, it is not over yet, we are marching forward. There might be a temporary eclipse, but after this eclipse comes sunshine. ”We have done a lot in this state through our governor and government that posterity will not forget us. The state belongs to us. We will continue to struggle to ensure that we achieve our ideals for this state. “We will continue to galvanize and mobilize our party for greater heights. I want to assure you that victory is achieved already. Victory is certain.”

Source: Vanguard By Dapo Akinrefon