The Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday denied a report that it had endorsed the former governor of Oyo governor, Abiola Ajimobi for the position of the Deputy National Chairman (South).
The party insisted that Senator Ajimobi has not been endorsed for the position by the Southwest caucus of the party, saying the nominee from Ekiti, Senator Gbenga Aluko, remains the best and most qualified for the position in the spirit of equity and fair- play.
The seat became vacant following the nomination, clearance and swearing-in of Adebayo as the Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment last year.
A statement in Ado Ekiti, on Thursday, by the state APC Director of Media and Publicity, Sam Oluwalana, on behalf of the State Chairman of the party, Barrister Paul Omotosho, said there was no mention of any sort of endorsement at the APC zonal meeting held in Osogbo, Osun state capital on Wednesday.
Omotoso described the report that Ajimobi’s had been endorsed as reckless and smacks of mischief and misinformation.
The statement reads; “I was present at the meeting and nobody said anything about endorsing anybody for the position at that meeting”, Omotoso said.
Omotoso stated that the party in Ekiti stands by the nominee from Ekiti, Senator Gbenga Aluko, as the best to occupy the seat.
He added: ”We made our position clear that our state has to serve out its tenure and that we are endorsing Senator Gbenga Aluko for the position.
“The South West chairman of the party, Pastor Oluwajana received a petition which we submitted at the meeting and promised to forward same to the National Secretariat of the party. That was all that transpired at the meeting. For anybody to say or report anything to the contrary, is not only false, but pure mischief”.
The Ekiti caucus of the party had stormed the venue of the zonal meeting held at Osogbo, on Wednesday, protesting alleged plot to deprive Ekiti from filling the slot.
The party insisted that Ekiti APC must be given the opportunity to fill the slot.