2018: Fayose’ Deputy, Olusola Clinches PDP Governorship Ticket In Ekiti
The deputy governor of Ekiti State, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, on Tuesday emerged the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the July 14 governorship election in the state.
Olusola beat the former national publicity of the party, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye to the ticket.
The leader of Governorship Primary of PDP in Ekiti state and governor of Delta state, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, had earlier announced the accreditation of 1968 delegates while only seven votes were voided.
Olusola is the preferred aspirant of his principal, Governor Ayodele Fayose, polled 1190 votes while Adeyeye scored 770 votes.
The accredited votes according to Okowa were 1968, total valid votes 1961, voided votes 7.
He appreciated Adeyeye for being a good sportman.
The Delta State governor declared Olusola as the duly elected governorship candidate of the PDP.
One of the governorship aspirants, Senator Abiodun Olujimi had earlier stepped down for Adeyeye.
Olujimi, who representing Ekiti South at the upper chamber of the National Assembly is the only female aspirant contesting on the platform of the party.
She announced her withdrawal from the racr shortly before the commencement of voting by the delegates at the Eagle Event Centre, where the exercise was held.
She said are decision to collapse her structure for Adeyeye was in the interest and progress of the party.
According to her , “For the benefits of our party I offer myself as a sacrificial lamb to make our party great. I am collapsing my structure for Prince Dayo Adeyeye. “
The governorship primary was held, with heavy security presence in and around of Eagles Event Hall, Ado Ekiti. the venue of the exercise.
Policemen, NSCDC, DSS, Prisons Immigration and other security operatives were deployed in the venue to maintain law and other.
There were also private security agents with sniffer dogs on ground to ensure that the venue was adequately secured.
To ensure that only people vote, accreditation of delegates were done at an adjacent hall before been convened in a luxurious bus to the venue of the election.
After announcing her withdrawal from the contest, Senator Olujimi and her agent were asked to step down from the stage .
He said Olujimi’s withdrawal had reduced the contending aspirants to only two.
“This means that only two aspirants are contesting.
Addressing the delegates before the commencement of voting, Okowa who disclosed 1968 delegates are voting to elect the party’s flag bearer promised that his team would organise free, fair and credible primary for the party.
He also commended the arrangement put in place for the exercise.
The voting , which started with the members of the state executive, was done local government by local government.
Delegates accredited for each of the 16 LGs are as follows:members of the state executive members 28; former national and state assembles 38; local government chairmen and vice 32; Ado LG 124; Ekiti West 110; Ise Orun 115; Ikere 117; Irepodun/Ifelodun 99; Idols 128 and Ikole 128.
Others are Emure 109; Moba 120; Ekiti S’West 116. Efon 105; Gbonyin 109; Ilejemeje 108; Ekiti East 131; Oye 126; Ijero 123 while the last local government, Ido-Osi 113, had delegates. The two aspirants and Governor Ayodele Fayose were last to cast their votes at 5. 07pm when votin ended.
The two aspirants had expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the exercise and promised to cooperate with whoever emerges as the candidate of the party to ensure the victory of the PDP in the July 14 election.
Olusola in his acceptance speech, said his victory came as a result of the support of people promising to put in place a people oriented government.
He also predicted victory for his party in the governorship across the sixteen local government areas of the state.
Fayose promised to reach out to Olujimi and Adeyeye on the need to work together for the success of the party in the impending poll.
He advised APC in the state to emulate the PDP model by inviting Okowa to assist them in the conduct of their governorship primary slated for Friday.
