Ayo Arise, a former Senator representing Ekiti North and a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and one of the leading aspirants for the Ekiti North senatorial ticket, was interviewed by Sunday Sun, where he spoke on issues including alleged abuse of power by governors, the consensus arrangement in party politics, and the proposed state police system, among other national concerns.
When was asked what he would do if the party adopted a consensus arrangement for the senatorial ticket despite his reservations about the process.
He responded that consensus, as provided for under the Electoral Act alongside direct primaries, should only be valid when all contestants willingly agree on a candidate. He argued that where such agreement is not reached, the party must resort to direct primaries.
He questioned how consensus could be imposed when multiple aspirants are contesting, stressing that it should not be reduced to a situation where a few individuals select a candidate on behalf of others. According to him, every aspirant has a constitutional right to contest, and any consensus must be collectively agreed upon by all participants.
Using his senatorial district as an example, he maintained that even party leaders, including senior figures like former Governor Kayode Fayemi, should not unilaterally impose a candidate under the guise of consensus. He insisted that any process that excludes contestants’ agreement would amount to selection rather than true consensus.
He claimed that where agreement is not achieved, the proper course is to allow a democratic primary election, warning that attempts to bypass due process could undermine the party’s interest and the credibility of its candidates.
Further talking, he said, “This one is most likely going to be my last election I want to participate in. I will be 70 this year. This primary will still happen before my 70th birthday and I have told them this is what I want from the party. If they cannot give it to me on a platter of gold for my efforts, for my sacrifices, for what I’ve done for the party, then let’s go to the field. Let the people of the senatorial district speak and say, we don’t want this man.”
He also said that the aim should be to ensure fairness in the selection process, warning that if people are allowed to impose candidates—even those preferred by others—without proper procedure, it would be unacceptable. He added that if the process leading to the emergence of a preferred candidate was fraudulent, he would not accept it and would challenge it in court to reclaim his ticket.
He further stressed that there must be integrity and decency in political processes, noting that without these values, leadership would be compromised….See More
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