BY ABIODUN NEJO
All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain in Ekiti State and senatorial aspirant, Senator Ayo Arise, on Tuesday withdrew from the senatorial race over the indirect mode of primary election adopted by the party in the state.
The former senator’s withdrawal came on the heels of a similar move by Ben Murray-Bruce, a senator from Bayelsa State, who also announced his withdrawal of his participation in the senatorial primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Senator Murray-Bruce conveyed his decision to the party hierarchy, fingering the zoning arrangement in his locality, which, he said, rotates senatorial seat by local government area at every election cycle.
On his part, Senator Arise, a former National Assembly member, premised his resignation on the adoption, by Ekiti State APC, of indirect mode for conduct of primaries for the national and state assembly
Arise, who said it was practically impossible to mobilise delegates for the shadow election in less than 24 hours, having prepared for direct primaries for over two months, kicked against the indirect primaries election format, saying it would not reflect the people’s wish.
Despite the fact that APC National Working Committee (NWC) had directed Ekiti State APC to conduct the election through direct mode, the party in the state, on Tuesday, adopted the indirect mode, citing security reason – a decision which some aspirants protested vehemently.
Addressing journalists at his Oye Ekiti home town, Arise, who was seeking ticket for Ekiti North Senatorial District, reiterated the fact that he was not desperate for office, saying: “I believe sincerely that as democrats, we should continue to develop the system. We should not take steps that are retrogressive. Let us take steps that will deepen democracy.
“We have said that the delegates’ mode doesn’t produce popular candidates. Delegates’ mode doesn’t reflect the popular wish of the people”.
The former federal lawmaker, however, said he remained a committed member of the party in spite of the reservations expressed about the adoption of indirect primaries.
Arise also said he would continue to work with other leaders of the party in the state to ensure the re-election of President Muhammad Buhari in the February 2019 presidential election.
He said: “I am not desperate to run for the Senate. I had engaged the governor-elect on my ambition several times before now.
“Before February next year, we hope to resolve all issues arising from the primaries and come back together to work for the success of our party in the 2019 general election,” he said.
Ben Murray-Bruce’s withdrawal, on his part, came 24 hours to the commencement of PDP senatorial primaries in Bayelsa and other states.
The Chairman/founder of the Silverbird Group, described his decision to quit the race as a tough one. But he said he would rather step down than use his might to crush opponent in a manner that could be deemed unfair by some of his constituents.
“I do not want whatever reason to appear to have used my privileged position and influence to do anything that other than the well-being and the stability and the good of the people,” the senator said.
Murray-Bruce, however, did not disclose what his next political moves would be.
Below is the letter in full:
LETTER OF WITHDRAWAL FROM THE BAYELSA EAST SENATORIAL RACE
I thank God and the good people of Brass, Bayelsa East Senatorial District who offered me the golden opportunity four years ago to represent them and the state in the Senate, Nigeria’s highest lawmaking chamber.
It is without doubt that I have tried to discharge my duties as a legislator and representative of my people creditably to the best of my ability so far.
My voice has been very loud on the issues that matter to our people and our country at all time.
My support to our party, my people and state government is unquestionable. I am humbled that the national leadership of my party supported by the State chapter in appreciation of my efforts offered to support my reelection to the senate to continue my service.
I have also intensified consultations in the last couple of week in the course of which I have come to realize an existing local rotational arrangement of over 20 years beginning with the late Great Chief Melford Okilo, by which arrangement the Senatorial seat rotates per local government area among the three councils for four years in the Senatorial District.
Even with the support of my party at the National and state levels with the full backing of my state government and leadership, as a man of honour interested in the well being of my people, I hereby announce my withdrawal from the Senatorial race.
I do not want whatever reason to appear to have used my privileged position and influence to do anything that other than the well-being and the stability and the good of the people.
I am in all of these for the people, not for my self.
Once again, I thank the former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, my colleagues in the Senate and Governor of Bayelsa State, the Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson for their support and encouragement.
I also thank the leadership of my Senatorial District and state, for for being there for me.
I thank Specially the people of my constituency for their trust and confidence in me to serve and represent them in the Senate.
By trusting me with this mandate, I have come to know them and our people even better, an experience I will never forget for the rest of my life.
I am indeed grateful to My darling wife, my children, other members of my family for their support and prayers. I appreciate the efforts of my hardworking campaign staff for their support and dedication.
Again, I thank the leadership of the party for their continuing support. I also assured the party of my availability and readiness to serve at any capacity when the opportunity comes.
Best Regards
Senator Ben Murray Bruce.
