The gulf
within the Ekiti State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti
State widened on Thursday as the former governor Ayodele Fayose and Senator
Biodun Olujimi inaugurated parallel ward executives.
within the Ekiti State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti
State widened on Thursday as the former governor Ayodele Fayose and Senator
Biodun Olujimi inaugurated parallel ward executives.
The duo had
been at loggerheads with each other over the leadership of the Ekiti PDP which
has for some time polarised the party into two dominant factions.
been at loggerheads with each other over the leadership of the Ekiti PDP which
has for some time polarised the party into two dominant factions.
Fayose and
Olujimi saw the emergence of the new party officials at the ward level an
opportunity to capture the party machinery ahead of the 2022 gubernatorial
election in the state.
Olujimi saw the emergence of the new party officials at the ward level an
opportunity to capture the party machinery ahead of the 2022 gubernatorial
election in the state.
While the
Fayose-led PDP on Thursday inaugurated members of the PDP ward EXCO in 155 out
of the 177 wards in Ekiti State with the swearing-in supervised by a notary
public, Niyi Idowu, the Senator Biodun Olujimi-led group inaugurated its
parallel ward excos on Friday in the presence of party elders.
Fayose-led PDP on Thursday inaugurated members of the PDP ward EXCO in 155 out
of the 177 wards in Ekiti State with the swearing-in supervised by a notary
public, Niyi Idowu, the Senator Biodun Olujimi-led group inaugurated its
parallel ward excos on Friday in the presence of party elders.
The Fayose
group predicated its action on a letter dated April 25 from the National
Working Committee addressed to the state PDP Chairman, Chief Gboyega Oguntuwase
to inaugurate the new executive officers as stipulated the in the provisions of
Section 65 of the party’s legal framework.
group predicated its action on a letter dated April 25 from the National
Working Committee addressed to the state PDP Chairman, Chief Gboyega Oguntuwase
to inaugurate the new executive officers as stipulated the in the provisions of
Section 65 of the party’s legal framework.
The NWC said
the list sent was the approved authentic list for 155 out of the 177 wards
after careful consideration of the report of the Electoral Committee and the
Appeal Panel.
the list sent was the approved authentic list for 155 out of the 177 wards
after careful consideration of the report of the Electoral Committee and the
Appeal Panel.
The PDP state
Chairman, Oguntuase, refuse to conduct the inauguration excercise, claiming no
directives were given to him from the party’s National Secretariat.
Chairman, Oguntuase, refuse to conduct the inauguration excercise, claiming no
directives were given to him from the party’s National Secretariat.
But the
inauguration was supervised by the State party legal Adviser, Niyi Idowu
allegedly on the instruction of Fayose.
inauguration was supervised by the State party legal Adviser, Niyi Idowu
allegedly on the instruction of Fayose.
Fayose’s media
aide, Lere Olayinka, said the inauguration was constitutional in its measure,
claiming the directive followed the NWC approval of the ward congresses held in
the state.
aide, Lere Olayinka, said the inauguration was constitutional in its measure,
claiming the directive followed the NWC approval of the ward congresses held in
the state.
He said the
new party officers had assumed office for a tenure of four years in accordance
with the party’s constitution.
new party officers had assumed office for a tenure of four years in accordance
with the party’s constitution.
Oguntuase who
rejected the swearing-in of the factional ward excos, described the entire
process as unconstitutional and a dubious political game targeted at
destabilizing PDP in the state.
rejected the swearing-in of the factional ward excos, described the entire
process as unconstitutional and a dubious political game targeted at
destabilizing PDP in the state.
He said apart
from the fact that the matter was pending in court, “the purported swearing-in
was done during the pendency of the outgoing ward executives of the party”.
from the fact that the matter was pending in court, “the purported swearing-in
was done during the pendency of the outgoing ward executives of the party”.
Oguntuwase,
who appealed for calm “until by constitutional means, everything is resolved”,
said, “The notary public contracted to do the swearing-in is not known to the
party as I did not mandate anybody to get him to work for us.
who appealed for calm “until by constitutional means, everything is resolved”,
said, “The notary public contracted to do the swearing-in is not known to the
party as I did not mandate anybody to get him to work for us.
“I wish to
state that up till today, I have not received any letter from anywhere
directing me to do any swearing-in for anybody. Even if I receive one now, the
directive of the dejure governor of the state concerning social distancing will
impede any gathering and swearing-in,” he said.
state that up till today, I have not received any letter from anywhere
directing me to do any swearing-in for anybody. Even if I receive one now, the
directive of the dejure governor of the state concerning social distancing will
impede any gathering and swearing-in,” he said.
Meanwhile, the
Ekiti PDP Repositioning Movement has rejected the purported inauguration of the
ward executives loyal to ex-governor Fayose and associated itself with
Olujimi’s camp.
Ekiti PDP Repositioning Movement has rejected the purported inauguration of the
ward executives loyal to ex-governor Fayose and associated itself with
Olujimi’s camp.
The group, in
a statement signed by its chairman, Engr. Alaba Agboola, said the purported
inauguration was a desperate antics by some ‘chameleonic elements’ to
forcefully hijack the party structure for their predetermined interest.
a statement signed by its chairman, Engr. Alaba Agboola, said the purported
inauguration was a desperate antics by some ‘chameleonic elements’ to
forcefully hijack the party structure for their predetermined interest.
It stated that
the purported swearing-in was an abberation that does not has basis in the law,
adding the excercise flagrantly negated the provisions of the party’s
constitution.
the purported swearing-in was an abberation that does not has basis in the law,
adding the excercise flagrantly negated the provisions of the party’s
constitution.
The group
argued that it is only the state organ of the party that can inaugurate its
local chapter not an obscure individual, stressing that the ward executives
purpotedly inaugurated were not the true representation of the congress.
argued that it is only the state organ of the party that can inaugurate its
local chapter not an obscure individual, stressing that the ward executives
purpotedly inaugurated were not the true representation of the congress.
It said the
authentic ward party officials were the ones whose congress results were duly
signed by the PDP, INEC officials and security operatives.
authentic ward party officials were the ones whose congress results were duly
signed by the PDP, INEC officials and security operatives.
The group
advised new members of executives at the ward level to eschew divisive
tendencies and and embark on aggressive mobilization of various factions to
build a united and cohesive PDP in the state.
advised new members of executives at the ward level to eschew divisive
tendencies and and embark on aggressive mobilization of various factions to
build a united and cohesive PDP in the state.
Politics: Ijaw
leaders mount pressure on Dickson to join senatorial contest
leaders mount pressure on Dickson to join senatorial contest
Prominent Ijaw
leaders have mounted pressure on a
former Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, to join the race for the
Bayelsa West Senatorial bye-election.
leaders have mounted pressure on a
former Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, to join the race for the
Bayelsa West Senatorial bye-election.
Over 15 famous
leaders, who once occupied top positions in Ijaw struggle such as Dr. Felix
Tuodolo, Asari- Dokubo, Frank Omare, Udengs Eradiri, Frank Omare, Alfred
Kemepado, Mr Oyinfie Jonjon among others
met and said only Dickson possessed the qualities to speak for the Ijaw at the
Senate.
leaders, who once occupied top positions in Ijaw struggle such as Dr. Felix
Tuodolo, Asari- Dokubo, Frank Omare, Udengs Eradiri, Frank Omare, Alfred
Kemepado, Mr Oyinfie Jonjon among others
met and said only Dickson possessed the qualities to speak for the Ijaw at the
Senate.
The leaders in
a communiqué issued after their meeting said Dickson’s contributions to the
advancement of Ijaw development distinguished him from others.
a communiqué issued after their meeting said Dickson’s contributions to the
advancement of Ijaw development distinguished him from others.
They urged the
people of Sagbama and Ekeremor to see the candidature of Dickson beyond party
lines but a further call to duty in the service of the Ijaw project.
people of Sagbama and Ekeremor to see the candidature of Dickson beyond party
lines but a further call to duty in the service of the Ijaw project.
They said in
the communiqué: “That in view of the above mentioned realities, it is hereby
resolved that all patriotic sons and daughters of Ijaw Nation should persuade
and support the His Excellency, Hon. H.S Dickson who has been a pillar of
support to all Ijaw people irrespective of our artificial boundaries.
the communiqué: “That in view of the above mentioned realities, it is hereby
resolved that all patriotic sons and daughters of Ijaw Nation should persuade
and support the His Excellency, Hon. H.S Dickson who has been a pillar of
support to all Ijaw people irrespective of our artificial boundaries.
“And that this
decision is unbiased and springs from the above expectations and his
overwhelming performance as a former member of the House of Representatives for
five years and a Governor who served our people for eight years which has given
him the much needed requisite experience.
decision is unbiased and springs from the above expectations and his
overwhelming performance as a former member of the House of Representatives for
five years and a Governor who served our people for eight years which has given
him the much needed requisite experience.
We therefore
call on His Excellency, Hon. HSD to contest the senatorial election while
appealing to all Ijaw patriots to stand with His Excellency Hon Seriake Dickson
and elect him to the senate to continue to fly the Ijaw flag.”
call on His Excellency, Hon. HSD to contest the senatorial election while
appealing to all Ijaw patriots to stand with His Excellency Hon Seriake Dickson
and elect him to the senate to continue to fly the Ijaw flag.”
