Hakeem Jamiu, a member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly representing Irepodun-Ifelodun Constituency II, has rejected claims that he endorsed Boluwatife Fayose as the consensus candidate for the constituency’s assembly seat. Boluwatife is the son of former Ayodele Fayose.
Gatekeepers News reports that the reports circulating online suggested that Jamiu backed Fayose during a constituency meeting held in Iworoko on March 14.
In a statement on Monday, Jamiu said that although he attended the meeting, he did not participate in any endorsement and openly opposed the alleged consensus arrangement.
The lawmaker, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the party had not approved a consensus process for selecting candidates for state and national assembly primaries. He noted that the last stakeholders’ meeting at Jibowu Hall, Government House, only sanctioned consensus arrangements for chairmanship and councillorship positions, not 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,” he said.
Jamiu described the alleged endorsement as “premature and preposterous,” adding that official guidelines for the primaries had not yet been released. He expressed confidence that the APC national leadership would ensure internal democracy and a level playing field for all aspirants.
The lawmaker also alleged that the meeting turned violent, claiming he was assaulted by a ward councillor who allegedly pushed and threatened him.
He urged supporters to disregard reports suggesting he participated in the endorsement, stressing that consensus requires the agreement of all stakeholders, and reiterated his commitment to due process within the party ahead of the forthcoming primaries.
