By; OLADELE ADEDAYO, Ado-Ekiti
In a bid to address alleged political marginalisation in the years past against their area, members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State have stormed the party’s state secretariat at Ajilosun Area in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital to express grievances on the need to allow them produce the next Senator in district come 2023 general elections.
The aggrieved protesters who came in large numbers to the APC office on Tuesday with placards of various inscription such as, “Stop the Political Marginalisation of Ikole LG, Its the turn of Ikole LG to produce Senator, Give Ikole Senate ticket and so on sang solidarity songs for the party and its flag bearer, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji (BAO).
The protesters also drummed support for the presidential ambition of Governor Kayode Fayemi with the hope that Ikole local government indigene would be considered to fly the flag of the party for Senatorial District Election in the 2023 general elections.
They urged the APC leaders to give reward to the council’s loyalty and contributions to the various successes recorded in the party by allowing one of their own fly the Senatorial ticket.
The aggrieved party men argued that the four other local government areas of Oye, Ido/Osi, Moba and Ilejeneje have had opportunities to produce senators on more than two occasions each, stressing that Ikole which claimed is the biggest of them cannot be isolated and marginalised.
But there was no party officials to receive or hear the grievances of the protesters, they however, stayed in front of the secretariat for hours, singing solidarity songs and demanding equity and fairness from the party.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Sunday Awogbemi said, “APC as a progressive party believes in the principle of justice, equity and fairness and cannot afford any important section of the state to be poorly treated politically or marginalised.”
He reaffirmed their belief in the party and its candidate, but urged stakeholders to as a matter urgency, see to their grievances and accede to their request without further delays.
Awogbemi alleged that the area has been marginalized in the past, stressing that since the return of democracy rule, no one from the area had represented Ekiti North Senatorial District at the National Assembly.
Also speaking, another Ikole leader ,Francis Ojo said the local government area has quality and qualified sons and daughters who could deliver if given the opportunity.
He urged the party executive to look towards the direction of Ikole to ensure fairness and equity in the distribution of party’s elective positions.
