A member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly representing Irepodun-Ifelodun Constituency II, Hakeem Jamiu, has dismissed reports claiming he endorsed Boluwatife Fayose as a consensus candidate for the constituency’s assembly seat.
Boluwatife is the son of former Ayodele Fayose.
Reports circulating online had suggested that Jamiu and other stakeholders supported the alleged consensus arrangement during a constituency meeting held in Iworoko on March 14.
However, in a statement issued on Monday, the lawmaker clarified that although he attended the meeting, he did not participate in any endorsement and had openly opposed the arrangement.
Jamiu, a member of the All Progressives Congress, said the party had not approved a consensus process for selecting candidates for state and national assembly primaries.
According to him, the most recent stakeholders’ meeting held at Jibowu Hall in the Government House only approved consensus arrangements for chairmanship and councillorship positions ahead of local government elections.
He insisted that no decision had been taken to extend the arrangement to legislative seats.
“It is embarrassing for me as a sitting member of the House of Assembly to be invited to a constituency meeting in my constituency only to be conscripted by ambush into a pre-arranged consensus endorsement,” Jamiu said.
The lawmaker described the alleged endorsement as “premature and preposterous,” noting that the party had yet to release official guidelines for the primaries that would determine candidates for state and national assemblies.
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He expressed confidence that the national leadership of the APC would uphold internal democracy and provide a level playing field for aspirants seeking the party’s ticket.
Jamiu also alleged that the meeting turned violent, claiming he was assaulted by a ward councillor who allegedly pushed and rough-handled him while issuing threats against him.
He urged his supporters and members of the public to disregard reports suggesting that he supported the endorsement, stressing that consensus decisions require the agreement of all relevant stakeholders.
The lawmaker reaffirmed his commitment to due process and internal party democracy as political activities begin to intensify ahead of the forthcoming primaries.