After Surviving Gunshot, Bamidele Emerges Senatorial Candidate

After surviving gunshots at a political rally three months ago, former Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele at the weekend emerged the senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State for Ekiti Central Senatorial District.

In another development, however, aspirants that participated in the APC House of Representatives primary held in Ekiti the state called on the APC National Chairman, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole to cancel the outcome of the election.

Bamidele, former National Publicity Secretary of Alliance for Democracy (AD) and ex-Chairman of the House of Representatives on Legislative Research & Budget and, defeated the incumbent Senator, Mrs. Fatimat RajiRasaki to emerge the APC candidate.

Declaring the result yesterday at the party’s secretariat in Ado Ekiti, the Chairman of the National Working Committee on Senatorial primary in Ekiti, Mr Ibrahim Sule, said Bamidele polled a total of 61,823 votes to defeat his closest rival, who garnered 3,289.

In the election in Ekiti North, Senator Olubunmi Adetumbi clinched the senatorial ticket with a total of 2,763 while former National Publicity Secretary off Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Dayo Adeyeye won in the South with a total vote of 51, 443.

Former Chief of Staff to the Governor-elect, Mr Yemi Adaramodu won the House of Representatives ticket in Ekiti South Federal constituency 1.

After the declaration, Bamidele commended former Governor Niyi Adebayo and the Governor-elect, Dr Kayode Fayemi for standing by him and prevented some powerful individuals from imposing Raji-Rasaki on the party.

He noted that the direct primary conducted in Ekiti had afforded every member the right of participation as entrenched in democratic ideals, noting that the act of imposition would only brew ill-feelings among party members.

He lauded party members for exhibiting so much love for him, urging them to replicate the gesture next year’s February 16, when the presidential and National Assembly elections will be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).