The candidate of the Democratic Action Party (ADP) for the Ekiti state gubernatorial election on June 18, Kemi Elebute-Halle has said that his running mate Sunday Afuye’s defection to the All Progressives Congress is illegal.
She said that desertion denies the dictates of the Electoral Law and, as such, is null and void.
Ms. Elebute-Halle said the popularity of ADP was the reason some of the major political parties in the state were taking steps to cause confusion by planting moles in the party.
On Thursday, Afuye had left the ADP, where he was the candidate for lieutenant governor, for the APC.
He left with several ADP supporters and was greeted by the ruling party’s top brass in Ado Ekiti.
Mr. Afuye had accused Ms. Elebute-Halle of anti-democratic tendencies and that she lacked the means to be governor of Ekiti state.
He had also stated that the candidate had been holding a solo show at the ADP since she emerged as a candidate.
He noted that his defection to the APC was due to his belief that the administration of Biodun Oyebanji would fulfill the aspirations of the Ekiti people.
The icy relationship between the two flag bearers came to light about a week ago, when Afuye threatened to walk out of the party and the race.
But party officials did not take him seriously until he announced his departure.
‘Giving up, not resigning’
Elebute-Halle told reporters in Ado Ekiti on Sunday that Afuye’s defection to the APC was mere speculation, not known to party members and leadership.
“So far, it is speculation. My candidate for lieutenant governor has not yet formally left the party,” she said.
“He only resigned from the party but he did not resign. We have not yet been informed about this.
“Whatever he did, he is considered to have done it under duress and for political reasons. Those who pushed him did not know how to recognize the fact that, at the moment in which one enlists in the list published by the INEC, there is no going back.
“Afuye continues to be the party’s deputy governor candidate until the electoral act decides otherwise. I hope he can trace his footsteps back to ADP.
If you really want to leave, you must follow the process as dictated by the electoral law. I’m sure APC is aware of this.
“So if it’s not politically expedient and permissible, it won’t get away with it, if the status quo isn’t maintained.”
Ms. Elebute-Halle further noted that people believed that women should now hold the governorship after the creation of Ekiti state 24 years ago, adding that there was nothing to stop her, no matter the propaganda.
She said she had been approached by APC leaders to join them, while others had accused her of working for the SDP.
But he said that he had invested a lot of time and resources in the current race and that there was no reason for it to be sold.
“I will never betray the trust my many supporters place in me,” he said. “Even if I will be the only one to vote for myself on election day.”
On Mr. Afuye’s claim that he left ADP for APC with 20,000 supporters, he said: “Afuye brought ADP alone and left with himself. He never brought anyone to the party and no one went with him.”
Ms. Elebute-Halle is one of two candidates vying to be governor of Ekiti on June 18 this year.
There are 14 other male candidates, including Biodun Oyebanji of the APC; Bisi Kolawole of the PDP and Segun Oni of the SDP.