ELDERS in the Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have weighed in on the current leadership crisis rocking the party and reaffirmed their support for ex-Governor Ayodele Fayose as the leader of the party in the state.
The elder’s caucus of Ekiti PDP, after a meeting on Wednesday, also said they we in support of the state executive committee of the party led by Chief Gboyega Oguntuwase.
In a communique after the meeting held at Ijesa-Isu in Ikole Local Government Area of the state, the elders expressed concern over what they said was the various meetings of faction being held by members of the party in the state.
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They elders in the communique signed by a former deputy governor and the chairman of the caucus, Chief Paul Alabi, dissociated themselves from a recent meeting of members under the aegis of “stakeholders” in which the Senate Minority Whip, Senator Biodun Olujimi, was declared as the party’s leader.
Also at the meeting were former chairmen of the party in the state, Chief J. Ademuagun, Chief Bola Oluojo and Chief Idowu Faleye; Chief Idowu Odeyemi, Mrs. C. O. Adesoro and incumbent PDP chairman, Chief Oguntuase.
The elders urged members to shelve their differences and work for the victory of the PDP in the presidential election.
Meanwhile, a group of PDP members in the state “Integrity Women in Politics,” has restated its support for the adoption of Senate Minority Leader, Senator Biodun Olujimi as the party’s leader in the state.
The group, in a statement by Mrs Titi Oluwatuyi, made available to newsmen on Wednesday, claimed that Section 30 of the PDP’s constitution allowed leadership change in the PDP, saying the leadership change was in order.
The PDP women group commended those who spearheaded the announcement of the change in leadership of the party, saying it would “serve as a morale booster for women’s participation in politics.”
Oluwatuyi also commended the former Governor Fayose for allegedly “respecting and standing by the decision of the stakeholders”, saying this was “party supremacy in action.”
She contended that Senator Olujimi’s adoption was “in consonance with the party’s constitution and the rule of law” and that the action didn’t breach any law of the land.
She said: “We commend former Governor Fayose for standing by the party’s decision and he did this because he realised that the decision was in line with the party’s guidelines and constitution contrary to some disgruntled and faceless elements who are bent on fanning the ember of discord within the party.
“We charge the new leader, Senator Olujimi to, as a matter of urgency, constitute a reconciliation committee that will further foster unity among party members with a view to presenting a formidable party that can guarantee victory for us in 2019.”
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