Frontline aspirant for the Ekiti South Senatorial District seat under the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bamidele Faparusi, has been cleared to participate in the party’s forthcoming senatorial primary election following the screening conducted by the APC National Working Committee (NWC).
Faparusi, a former member of the House of Representatives and widely known among supporters as “Fappy,” successfully passed the screening exercise organized by the party ahead of the APC senatorial primaries.
Speaking during the exercise, the National Chairman of the APC, Nentawe Yilwatda, reaffirmed the commitment of the party leadership to conducting a free, fair, transparent, and credible primary election across the country.
According to him, despite pressure from certain interests pushing for non-competitive arrangements, the National Working Committee remains determined to uphold internal democracy and protect the integrity of the party.
Prof. Yilwatda stressed that the APC would resist any attempt capable of undermining its democratic foundation, insisting that the era of imposing candidates against the wishes of party members must give way to genuine participation and transparency.
He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the confidence reposed in the NWC to organize transparent primaries nationwide, assuring party faithful that the leadership would justify the trust placed in it.
The APC National Chairman further urged aspirants to sensitize party members on the importance of the direct primary system as stipulated in the Electoral Act, noting that the process gives card-carrying members at the grassroots the power to determine the party’s candidates.
He warned party members against rumours suggesting that the Presidency or the party leadership had endorsed any aspirant, emphasizing that there would be no automatic ticket for anyone, including serving lawmakers and senators.
Reacting after the screening, Faparusi expressed confidence in the party’s democratic process and commended the APC leadership for standing firmly in defence of fairness, transparency, and internal democracy.
“I am encouraged by the assurances given by our National Chairman and the leadership of our great party. APC remains a progressive party built on fairness, participation, and the voice of the people. I am fully prepared for the direct primary and confident in the support of APC members across Ekiti South,” he said.
Supporters of the former federal lawmaker have continued to express optimism about his chances in the primary election, citing his grassroots connection, loyalty to the party, and track record in empowerment and constituency development.
