Stakeholders of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, on Wednesday, adopted the deputy governor of the state, Professor Kolapo Olubunmi Olusola, as the party’s candidate in the 2018 governorship election.
This decision sparked jubilation in Ikere Local Government Area where Professor Olusola hails from, just as some other stakeholders in the party as well as some of its governorship aspirants kicked against the decision.
A former Nigerian envoy to Canada, Dare Bejide, who is also eyeing the governorship ticket of the party, denounced the adoption, saying it was the decision of some groups in the party; while some others who chose to “remain anonymous for now” said the development had not hampered their chances of winning the party’s ticket.
However, the jubilant Ikere-Ekiti crowd and PDP faithful hinged their joy on what they described as “a prayer answered”, saying “we have been praying to God to choose a governorship candidate from our community as the headquarters of Ekiti South district.”
The PDP stakeholders had arrived at the decision in a meeting held at Government House, Ado Ekiti and had included the entire 177 councilors in the 16 local government areas in the state; 177 ward chairmen, the 16 local government party chairmen and the 16 Local Council Chairmen.
Others at the meeting were the chairmen and members of boards and parastatals, members of the state executive council, members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, serving and former members of the PDP State Working Committee, former Deputy Governor, among others.
The adoption of Olusola, a professor of Building Technology at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, was the major decision reached at the stakeholders meeting.
In a communique, they said “after due consultation, without prejudice to the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), we formally endorse His Excellency, Professor Kolapo Olusola (the current deputy governor), from Ekiti South Senatorial District, as our preferred aspirant/candidate.”
The communique was signed by Anifowose Mustapha, for Councillors; Alhaji Amuda Sunmonu, for Ward Chairmen; Femi Bamisile, for Local Government Party Chairmen; 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.
The development by the party leaders had appeared to have closed the door against some interested members in the race, including the interim national publicity secretary of the party, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye; former deputy governor, Dr Sikiru Tae-Lawal , the Senator representing Ekiti South, Chief Biodun Olujimi and Bejide.
But chairman of the party in the state, Chief Gboyega Oguntuwase said the decision of the stakeholders did not stop interested members from pursuing their ambition, saying the decision was taken by the stakeholders in the overall interest of the party and the entire people of Ekiti State.
According to Oguntuase, open and transparent primary election will be held in accordance with the rules of the party.
He said: “The opportunity of a primary is available because it is a constitutional issue. That the majority of the people have spoken does not mean that others will be denied their rights of contesting. We are not going to shut the door against anybody, because that is what the constitution of the party says and we are going to abide by it.”
But reacting, both former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of the state, Owoseni Ajayi and Ambassador Bejide, who are aspirants on the party’s platform, dismissed the development as not posing any threat to their emergence as the party’s candidate during its primaries in March 2018.
Bejide, is ex-Nigeria said: “any caucus of the party can adopt any candidate, whether the choice of Olusola by his caucus has Fayose’s backing hold no water as no one can impose a candidate on the party. This would not stop me from emerging the party’s governorship flagbearer for the poll in March, 2018.”
A group loyal to Adedayo Adeyeye, known as Prince Adedayo Adeyeye Movement (PAAM) said in a statement that the decision was “a clear breach of the party’s constitution.”
In a statement signed by Niyi Ojo, PAAM said the meeting was “hastily convened” saying “PAMM rejects the purported adoption of a sole candidate in its entirety as there are many other aspirants for the governorship race in 2018.
“This gathering was organised and supervised by Governor Fayose to impose a stooge as the sole candidate for PDP in EKITI State.”
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