By Dwelleth Morountodun
The Kwara State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has said the All Progressives Congress (APC)
may lose the votes of Christians in Ekiti, Oke-Ero, Irepodun and Isin Federal Constituency of Kwara State, in the 2019 election.
Piqued by an alleged injustice against, Chief Isaac Adeyemi, in the recently conducted primary election of the APC in the Federal Constituency, CAN threatened to vote for the candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) next year, if the injustice was not reversed.
In a letter titled ‘Demand to do Justice’ dated 17th October, addressed to APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole and signed by Prof.T. Opoola, its chairman, the Kwara State CAN condemned a purported substitution of the name of Chief Adeyemi , winner of the primary election for Ekiti, Oke-Ero, Irepodun and Isin Federal Constituency with the name of another person.
Chief Adeyemi in the October 5, primary election was said to have scored 7931 votes to beat other aspirants; Raheem Olawuwo Ajulo with 7151 Votes, Ganiyu Subaru with 3463 Votes and Israel Ekundayo Afolaogun with 1359 votes, to win the APC ticket for the Constituency ahead of the 2019 House of Representatives election.
CAN in the letter said ” if the mandate of Chief Isaac Omogbenle Adeyemi is not tampered with, CAN will mobilise Christians for him to win the election, however, if you the mandate giving him by the electorate is scuttled, Kwara CAN is left with no option than to mobilise her members to vote for the opposition party because the PDP candidate is a Christian”.
The body was not satisfied with an alleged involvement of the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who is said to be influencing the substitution of Adeyemi’s name with a Muslim candidate on the ground that Christians are in the minority in the Constituency.
It also stressed that it was unjust to deny Adeyemi his deserved victory considering the fact he was the only Christian that won just one out of the 9 National Assembly positions (3 Senators and 6 Representatives) positions in Kwara State.