Oni accuses Fayose, NWC of sellout to APC

A former governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Ekiti State in the just concluded primary, Chief Segun Oni, has accused the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and ex-governor, Ayodele Fayose of mortgaging the party’s candidacy for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). 

In a statement by the Director-General of his campaign organisation, Yemi Arokodare, on Sunday, Oni alleged that the outcome of the primary was “orchestrated by Fayose to sell the party to the ruling APC.” 

According to the ex-governor, the candidate of the PDP and Fayose’s protege, Bisi Kolawole, could be best described as a duplicate copy of the APC’s candidate in the June 18 governorship election. 

He said: “It is a big shame that the National Working Committee of the PDP could not see through this deception but deliberately connived with Fayose to force Governor Udom Emmanuel on the Ekiti process to achieve a predetermined hatchet job. 

“The national chairman of the PDP should explain to party members nationwide the import of section 45 (a) Part VI under the General Provisions of the Electoral Guidelines for primary after the Adhoc election was nullified. 

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“For the record, Ekiti is a giveaway to the APC; the majority of party members are aware that it would be an exercise in futility to spend time and resources to campaign for the candidate of the PDP ahead of the June 18 election. 

“It is worrisome that Chairman Ayu is interested in threatening party members with suspension and expulsion, but he is hardly interested in how the party will win in Ekiti,” the statement read. 

But Fayose’s media aide, Lere Olayinka dismissed the allegations, saying, “PDP has produced a governorship candidate in person of Kolawole. Those who had issues with the conduct of the primary had made presentations to the appeal panel. The panel has affirmed the result of the primary election. 

“If anybody is saying another thing, he is on his own. The level now is that we wish and feel that everybody in the PDP, including Segun Oni will work together to ensure victory of our candidate. 

“Honourable Kolawole went to Oni’s house at Ifaki Ekiti on Thursday and was told that he was not at home. Our candidate has visited other aspirants. We are talking to our people so that all of us can come together and win this election for PDP and for the people of Ekiti State.”