Secondus, Mark Storm Ekiti, Assure Of Transparent Primary In PDP
The national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus and former Senate President, David Mark on Wednesday stormed Ekiti State where they reassured all governorship aspirants on the platform of the party in Ekiti State that it will conduct a free, fair and transparent primary ahead of the July 14 governorship poll.
The national chairman of the party, Chief Uche Secondus gave the assurance on Wednesday in Ado Ekiti, during a peace and reconciliation meeting involving aggrieved aspirants of the party in the state.
Some the governorship aspirants on the platform of the party in the state have been at loggerheads with the leadership of state chapter of the party, following the adoption of the deputy governor, Prof Kolapo Olusola as preferred candidate, which was backed by Governor Ayodele Fayose.
The aggrieved aspirants present at the meeting, were, former national publicity of the party, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye, the Senate deputy minority whip, Mrs Biodun Olujimi.
Former Nigeria envoy to Canada, Chief Dare Bejide and former deputy governor in the state, Dr Sikiru Lawal had since dumped the party for Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Labour Party (LP) respectively.
Fayose’s deputy, Prof. Olusola, is among the aspirants scheduled to participate in the May 8 primary of the party.
Addressing aggrieved aspirants who were at the meeting with their supporters, Secondus, said: “I assure you once again, there will be transparency and the process would not cheat anybody.
“I urge you to join the leaders to work together to ensure a free and fair transparent primaries,eminent Nigerian are conducting the primaries.
” We urge you to remain calm. We also urge INEC and security agents not to be partial but come to defend democracy doing that the best if our people will serve the people the best. From here we are moving to other parts of the country for sensitization.”
Speaking in the same vein, former Senate President, David Mark said: “First is that I have been working on bringing peace to Ekiti by reconciling all parties and that has been done very well. I thank you supporters for the peace and agreement to work together.
‘’Secondly, is to assure you that the process leading to the final election of whoever will become PDP candidate in Ekiti for the July poll will be free fair and credible. If we are insisting that INEC must be fair, it means we will have to do so ourselves at the party level.
‘’Nobody will write delegates’ names, everyone will vote for candidate of his choice. We will ensure this and all stakeholders will ensure it. We want to show the world what internal democracy is. Internal democracy will ensure that you all fight for your preferred cans and we will ensure that. I am very confident that PDP will be in Ekiti.”
In his remarks, Ekiti State Governor Mr. Ayodele Fayose said, “There is no value you can add to us more than this. Your presence has gingered everyone because the party is on ground here. When I was to contest in 2014.’’
