Trouble looms in Ekiti PDP as chieftains oppose emergence of Fayose’s deputy as sole gov candidate

The announcement of Ekiti State’s deputy governor, Professor Kolapo Olusola, as sole candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the 2018 governorship election in the state seems to have signaled a looming crisis as some prominent chieftains of the party have described his emergence as illegal.

Among the chieftains of the party who have cried foul over Olusola’s emergence and may oppose the development are the publicity secretary of the National Caretaker Committee of the PDP, Mr. Dayo Adeyeye; the immediate past Ekiti State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Owoseni Ajayi; as well as a former Nigerian High Commissioner to Canada, Dare Bejide.

Ekiti PDP had announced in a statement released by Governor Ayodele Fayose’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, the adoption of the deputy governor, who is a professor of Building Technology from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, as the sole candidate of PDP for the state governorship election next year.

The statement claimed that the development was the major decision reached at the party’s stakeholders meeting in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday.

“The meeting was attended by 177 councilors, 177 ward chairmen, 16 local government party chairmen, 16 local council chairmen, chairmen and members of Boards and Parastatals, State Executive Council, Ekiti State House of Assembly members, serving and former members of the PDP State Working Committee, former Deputy Governor, among others,” the statement reads.

It quoted the communiqué issued at the end of the meeting as saying, “After due consultation, without prejudice to the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), we formally endorse His Excellency, Prof Kolapo Olusola (the current deputy governor), from Ekiti South senatorial district, as our preferred aspirant/candidate.”

Those who allegedly signed the communique were; Hon Anifowose Mustapha, for councillors, Alhaji Amuda Sunmonu, for ward chairmen; Hon Femi Bamisile, for local government party chairmen; Hon Dapo Olagunju, for local government chairmen (ALGON); Senator Bode Ola, for chairmen of Board and Parastatals; Dr Modupe Alade (Secretary to the State Government), for State Executive Council; Rt. Hon. Kolawole Oluwawole, Speaker of the state House of Assembly and the state chairman of the party, Chief Gboyega Oguntuase.

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But Adeyeye’s campaign group, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye Movement, rejected the development.
According to the group, the adoption was a clear breach of the PDP’s constitution and the provisions of the Electoral Act (as amended).

They further said that the meeting was nebulous and hastily convened out of fear for the overwhelming popularity of Adeyeye.

“It is important to note that the PDP, as a political party, is bigger and larger than any individual no matter how highly placed as to override the rules and regulations of the party which are sacrosanct in the election of any candidate for elective position

“PAMM rejects the purported adoption of a sole candidate in its entirety as there are many other aspirants for the governorship race in 2018,” the group said.

Also, Bejide and Ajayi, chieftains of the party have equally faulted the emergence and vowed to continue their aspiration to become the party’s governorship candidate for the primary election slated to hold in March, 2018.”

 

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