By Law Ibitoye
It was a carnival-like atmosphere on Saturday at the venue of the All Progressives Congress (APC) local government primary election, held at opposite Methodist Church in Ilupeju-Ekiti, as party members in Ifeloju Local Council Development Area unanimously affirmed Hon. Olusola Michael Oniyelu as their chairmanship candidate for the forthcoming local government election.
The venue was filled to capacity as party members drawn from Ilupeju Ward 1 and 2, Omu-Ijelu and Osin-Itapa wards openly endorsed Oniyelu to run for a second term, citing his good performance and people-centred leadership style.
Speaking at the event, the Gatekeeper of Ifeloju LCDA and Special Adviser on Gender Empowerment and Mobilisation, Chief Mrs Kemi Olaleye, urged party members to remain united and continue to work harmoniously with Oniyelu, whom she described as a committed grassroots leader. According to her, his first-term achievements earned him the overwhelming support of party members across the wards.
Chief Olaleye noted that the chairman’s
impactful programmes included sustained grading and rehabilitation of inner roads, support for primary healthcare delivery, regular empowerment of women and youths through skills acquisition and petty-trading support, and interventions in education through assistance to public primary schools.
She said these initiatives had positively touched lives across the LCDA. She also commended the APC’s newly adopted primary election model, saying it had reduced financial pressure on aspirants and promoted peace across Ekiti State. She called on residents of Ifeloju LCDA to extend their support to Governor Biodun Oyebanji in the forthcoming election, applauding both the governor and his wife for their developmental strides in critical sectors of the state.
An elated Hon. Olusola Oniyelu, who was visibly joyous, sang songs of praise in appreciation to God, Governor Oyebanji, his wife, party leaders at the state, local government and ward levels, as well as party faithful for their unflinching support. He expressed special gratitude to Chief Kemi Olaleye, Hon. Sunday Adunmo, Hon. Abayomi, Hon. Bisi Adesua, his vice chairman, ward leaders, councillors and residents of the LCDA.
Oniyelu assured party members and residents that his second term, if elected, would consolidate on existing programmes while introducing more development-driven initiatives to improve livelihoods and infrastructure at the grassroots.
He also canvassed votes for Governor Oyebanji, declaring that Ifeloju LCDA would remain solidly behind the APC with no vote going to the opposition.
Dignitaries at the event included officials of the Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission (Ekiti SIEC), the immediate past chairman of Ifeloju LCDA, Comrade Babatunde Ogunmilugba, a member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly representing Oye Constituency II, and the Director-General of Signage, Hon. Bisi Adesua, among others.
The peaceful and well-attended primary further shown APC’s unity in Ifeloju LCDA and the confidence of party members in Hon. Olusola Oniyelu’s leadership ahead of the local government polls.