Ex-minister, senator, deputy governor seeking PDP ticket in Ekiti ‘but the race is between Fayose and one aspirant’

Three days after the disrupted All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election in Ekiti state, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is set to elect its own flag bearer.

Ayodele Fayose, leader of the PDP and governor of the state had mocked the opposition APC for failing to conduct a hitch-free primary election last Saturday. Some believe the PDP had scheduled its primary days after the APC’s so the party can know and weigh the political strength of who the opposition would be fielding against their candidate.

While 33 aspirants are fighting for the APC ticket, only three aspirants are seeking the governorship ticket under the platform of the PDP.

Tope Adejorin, state secretary of the party, told TheCable when the newspaper visited the party secretariat Monday evening that the three aspirants – Kolapo Olusola, Biodun Olujimi and Dayo Adeyeye – are seeking votes from about 2280 delegates from across the 16 local governments in the state.

He added that the exercise would take place in two venues. “One, the Afe Babalola event centre will be used for the accreditation. All delegates will move to the centre for accreditation. When you are confirmed as a delegate in that place, you will be given your ticket. Then, there will be free transportation, moving people from that centre to Eagle event centre. At that Eagle event centre, only delegates will be allowed in. There, voting will hold.

Adejorin said the exercise is coordinated by the state secretariat, but it would be supervised by the national officers of the party who have started arriving Ekiti.

“The chairman of that panel is the Governor Okowa of Delta state. But the party in the state is directly in charge of the coordination,” he said.

He explained that there might be shortcomings, the party is ready for the exercise.

“We can’t but have some short comings. But by our preparation, we are 85 percent ready. We want INEC to provide ballot boxes, it is not in our control but we have requested for it. It is part of what cannot make us say we are 100 percent ready. We have not received it for now.

The ballot paper is going to be produced by the national secretariat of the party. We have not received it but they will bring it to the centre.”

Anjorin gave assurance that the primary election will be free and fair.

As delegates and party members get set for the exercise, TheCable checked what the thoughts are about these aspirants.

BIODUN OLUJIMI

Olujimi is senator representing Ekiti south senatorial district. She served as Fayose’s deputy before the duo got removed from office in 2006. Olujimi, while hoping to succeed Fayose in 2006 had, allegedly, plotted against the governor whose government was characterised with controversies. Both were eventually removed, and again, Olujimi is attempting to be the governor.

Although both Fayose and Olujimi are of the same party, the two have not been in good terms, lately. The deputy senate minority whip has continually criticised some of the policies of Fayoese’s government.

A party member from Emure local government area told TheCable that Olijumi’s campaign has not been taken seriously within the party, and not many are even considering her.

“She has a political structure, but not one that can defeat Fayose’s candidate. Some delegates are not even seeing her as part of the race. How many of her campaign materials have you seen? How many local governments can she pull supporters from?” he asked.

Olujimi is from Ekiti south senatorial district.

KOLAPO OLUSOLA

Not many people knew this name until 2014 when Fayose chose him as running mate in the governorship election. Before joining politics, the 49 year old was a teacher at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU).

It is no news that Olusola is Fayose’s preferred candidate. Before now, Fayose had said his deputy would also leave with him when their tenure expires, but in January, Fayose took a turn, saying God told him to pick Olusola as his successor.

“He is not a politician, he is not active politically,” a party member from Ado-Ekiti local government area told TheCable.

“But, he will be using Fayose’s political structure to run, and he should win this primary.”

Another party member from Ijero local government area explained that Olusola might win the primary, being Foyose’s favourite, he won’t make a popular candidate at the general election.

“Some are not happy with Fayose within the PDP. They believe he wants Olusola to succeed him by all means so that he can still have control over the affairs of the state. He would serve as a boy-governor to Fayose. I don’t think Olusola is strong enough to face the APC in the coming election, Fayose would do the work for him.”

A party executive told TheCable that no one should fault Fayose for picking an aspirant over others.

“The governor is a member of the party, and he has a right to his own decision and nobody can fault him,” he said. “It is now left to every member of the party or delegates to choose the person of their choice, not necessarily going by what the governor has said.”

Olusola is from Ektit south senatorial district.

DAYO ADEYEYE

Adeyeye has been in the political circle since 1990 when he served as director of publicity for Falae presidential campaign organisation. He was also an adviser on policy for the MKO Abiola campaign organisation in 1993.

He became a foundation member of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), and in 2006 when a larger part of the party became Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), he was one of the governorship aspirants.

Adeyeye was runner up to Kayode Fayemi in the ACN primary election. With the controversies surrounding the election, Adeyeye and 12 other aspirants defected to the PDP. In 2014, he aspired under the PDP but lost to Fayose.

Under President Goodluck Jonathan’s government, he served as minister of state for works.

“He is actually the most experienced of all,” a party member from Ikere-Ekiti local government area told TheCable. “He is not Fayose’s preferred aspirant because the man is too experienced politically to serve a stooge to Fayose. It is a shock to Fayose that Adeyeye is still in the race.”

Another party member from Oye local government area said Adeyeye would be the best governorship candidate should he get the PDP ticket.

“He is the only person that I know can defeat any APC candidate,” he said.

“In fact, many people within the opposition APC would work with him. Don’t forget he is coming from the APC’s AD. His structure is still there within that party.”

Adeyeye is from Ekti south senatorial district.