Ekiti 2018: Accord leaders abandon party’s candidate, rally behind PDP’s Olusola

LEADERS and members of Accord in Ekiti State have dumped their governorship candidate in the July 14th governorship election in the state, Chief Abiodun Aluko and adopted the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Professor Kolapo Olubunmi Olusola.

Members of the party claimed while addressing newsmen after an emergency meeting, in Ado-Ekiti, on Tuesday, that Aluko had abandoned his role and duties as the party’s candidate by allegedly not holding any campaign in any part of the state a few days to the election.

Accord also blamed Aluko for not coming clean to its members on his financial capability and preparedness to prosecute the election, saying this was deceit.

While passing a vote of no confidence in Aluko, they also accused him of łdisrespect and dishonourable conduct towards the state executive led by the Chairman, Chief Samuel Odeoba and involvement in anti-party activities.”

They also claimed that their candidate deceived them that he had N1.2 billion to prosecute the governorship election “but it has been discovered that he lacks the financial wherewithal as earlier claimed to prosecute an election.”

Leader of the party in the state, Akogun Banji Ojo, who addressed newsmen after the meeting, said the party’s state executive committee led by Adeoba had entered into an alliance with the PDP to ensure Olusola’s victory.

Ojo said: “You will agree with us that the election is very close, so close that a serious candidate should not be dragging his feet, abandon the local government and ward level only to sit down at home and be professing that he will win the election.

“The party and the state executive committee members, after verification, hereby pass a vote of no confidence in you and your governorship ambition under Accord flag.

“We have decided to be in alliance and partnership with the PDP, we have seen the tremendous job done by Governor Ayo Fayose.

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“Fayose is the only viable opposition leader in Nigeria, he is not contesting but he has fielded Prof. Kolapo Olusola, Olusola’s antecedents showed Ekiti is going forward.

“We want all of you to vote for Kolapo Olusola on July 14 because we have all seen the tremendous job done by Fayose in the areas of education and infrastructure.”

Reacting to the development, Chief Aluko denied the allegations and accused leaders of the party of greed.

Aluko declared that he could not match the financial war chest of both the PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying he could not afford the amount the Accord leaders were looking for.

Aluko said: “Their action was borne out of greed for money; I can’t compare myself with the state government which is sponsoring Olusola and the Federal Government which is supporting Fayemi.

“The decision was not taken by the whole party but by two people. I still have the 16 local government executive members behind me and we are going ahead with our participation in the election.

“I did not commit any offence. They demanded money which I cannot afford presently. They said PDP and APC are spending billions which I can’t spend.

“Akogun Ojo and the state chairman have been hobnobbing with the state government, So I am not surprised that they are supporting Olusola Eleka.”