About four governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Ekiti State, on Monday, staged a protest at the Dallimore Junction in Ado-Ekiti, in continuation of their rejection of Saturday’s ward congress to elect three ad hoc delegates in each of the 177 wards in the state.
The four aspirants, including a former governor, Segun Oni; National Assembly member, Sen. Biodun Olujimi; a former governorship aspirant, Yinka Akerele; and former senatorial aspirant, Lateef Ajijola, took turns to accuse the National Working Committee Congress Committee of allegedly doctoring the congress to favour Fayose’s anointed aspirant, Bisi Kolawole.
There was a heavy traffic jam on the road as the aspirants and their placards-carrying supporters who massed on the road seized the opportunity to appeal to the Iyorchia Ayu-led NWC to cancel the congress which they allegedly did not hold.
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Olujimi alleged that the exercise was shrouded in secrecy, insisting that the congress result being bandied about was a mere concoction.
She said, “There was no ad hoc ward congress and we want absolute cancellation. What really happened was that one person hijacked all the materials and went to write all the lists. If you hijacked the materials and you are writing the names of the delegates, then, you will surely face the consequences.”
“It is not about me; it is about our party and future. What is important is fairness and justice. In any place where there is no fairness and justice, peace will be elusive. So, all the peace agreement has been broken. When you broke the peace agreement, what do you expect us to do? Fold our arms? No, we won’t”, she stated.
Olujimi, who warned that the development if allowed to persist would be a threat to the victory of the party in the poll, said, “There is need to listen to the people of Ekiti. The party must do the needful. They must call a meeting. And the meeting must be a meeting of truth. Without that, the poll here would be very tough for our party”.
But one of the governorship aspirants, Kayode Adaramodu, described the exercise of last Saturday Ward Adhoc Delegates Congress as substantial compliance.
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Adaramodu said he don’t have sufficient information or proof that the exercise is “obvious irregularities” in other parts of the state.
In a statement released on Monday, Adaramodu encourage the party leaders and members to please embrace decorum as we give the party leadership time to review the situation.
He further explained that his country home, Ilawe Ekiti, headquarters of Ekiti Southwest Local Government Area, where he monitored the exercise, revealed that the exercise scored substantial compliance.
He said “Well, Congresses are a phase in the electoral procedures designed to ultimately culminate in the election of party candidates into elective offices, such as a State Governor. And on Saturday, January 15, we had it in Ekiti PDP.
“Following the aspirants meeting with the Ward Congresses Electoral Committee at the State Capital Ado Ekiti, I was in my Ekiti Southwest Local Government, where I monitored the exercise. There, in my honest assessment, the exercise scored substantial compliance. Although some stakeholders have complained about what they described as “obvious irregularities” in other parts of the State, I don’t have sufficient information or proofs to premise any conclusions on.
“But, I would suggest that the NWC listen to and note such complaints in order to improve and raise the standards of such important exercises.
“Without a doubt, the success of these exercises are fundamental to our ultimate victory.
“We are evolving and we will continue to improve if we are ready to admit our imperfections and collectively commit to working towards more excellent outcomes.
“I encourage our party leaders and members to please embrace decorum as we give the party leadership time to review the situation”.
Another aspirant, Bisi Kolawole, cautioned other PDP governorship aspirants against the campaign of calumny against the leadership of the party over the last Saturday Ward Adhoc Delegates Congress.
Kolawole said that rather than going about spreading falsehood and engaging in a conspiracy against him, the aspirants should use the appeal committee to ventilate their grievances.
This was contained in a statement by the Director of Media and Publicity, Lere Olayinka, titled, “Ekiti 2022: Kolawole campaign organisation cautions PDP aspirants against the campaign of calumny over ad hoc delegates’ congress.”
The statement read, “We wish to draw the attention of the National Chairman of our party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyorchia Ayu, to the falsehood being propagated by some aspirants in Ekiti State, who are obviously expressing the usual frustration of impending losers.
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“We naturally should not have joined issues with them, because we were not responsible for their decision to stay in Ado Ekiti instead of going to their various wards for the congress, but it has become important that we put the records straight.
“We are sure that the national leadership of our party is conscious of the fact that there is no time there will not be winners and losers in elections and as expected, the losers will always make the loudest noise.
“As expected, they have engaged in falsehood and conspiracy because Otunba Bisi Kolawole is the strongest and most acceptable among the aspirants.
“For instance, we are aware that they are protesting in Ado Ekiti, today, against our party and its leadership.
“It is even more ridiculous and worrisome that they had to release to the public, telephone numbers of some members of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC), including that of the National Chairman, directing their supporters to be harassing them with calls and SMS.
“To us, it is really not enough to be making noise when most of them chose to sit in Ado Ekiti last Saturday when they ought to have been in their various wards.
“Most importantly, the party has provided an avenue for complaints over congresses to be made.
“Therefore, rather than going about maligning the party and its leadership, those who are aggrieved should approach the Appeal Committee that will be saddled with the responsibility of addressing their complaints.”