Ekiti guber: Group petitions Makarfi over adoption of Eleka

*Seeks dissolution of state PDP excos

The protests trailing the adoption of the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof. Olusola Eleka, as the “preferred Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate” for 2018 gubernatorial election believed to have been coordinated by Governor Ayodele Fayose have continued unabated.

Some stakeholders in the state chapter of the PDP, led by Prince Adedayo Adeyeye Movement (PAAM), have faulted the adoption and have written a protest letter to the national leadership of the PDP in Abuja.

The PAAM is the campaign organization of Prince Dayo Adeyeye the National Publicity Secretary, NPS, of the PDP National Caretaker ‎Committee.

In the latest protest letter signed by over 180 members of the PDP drawn across all the Wards in the 16 Local Government of the State,‎ and forwarded to the office of the Chairman, PDP Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, PAAM decried the unilateral adoption of Eleka.

The group in the protest letter decried the process leading to the alleged adoption, saying it was an act of impunity by Governor Fayose.

The party members made up of important dignitaries who had served in different public offices dissociated themselves from the adoption, and asked the party leadership not to reckon with it.

All party structures in the state, from Ward level were accused of compromising their position by taking part one way or another in the adoption saga, which was pointed out as contravening some sections of the PDP constitution.

As a way out of the matter, the national leadership of the PDP was urged to dissolve the party executives right from Ward level up to the state executives for betraying the trust reposed in them as custodians of the party’s ethos..

According to the petitioners, any attempt to sustain the act of illegality will adversely affect the cohesion being rebuilt in the party and thereafter, the chances of the party at the general elections.

The Governor was also condemned by the PAAM members who accused him of going outside his mandate and expected leadership role which placed on him, the burden of an unbiased leader.

Explaning the circumstances under which the alleged adoption was achieved, the PAAM stated that there was no meeting called with stakeholders, but that a supposed training programme for political office holders was hijacked by the governor and literally forced some persons to sign the contentious communique that was used in advertising the alleged adoption of Eleka.

The group, in its protest letter said: “We are aware that Mr. Ayo Fayose who incidentally doubles as the Governor of Ekiti-State and the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum who supposed to be working in tandem with ethos and principles enunciated by the party constitution has fragrantly violated the said constitution with the reckless act of impunity orchestrated by himself in Ekiti-State government house on September 6th 2017 whereby he hoodwinked some officers of our party into the adoption of his Deputy Prof. Olusola Eleka as the sole candidate for 2018 Gubernatorial election which is yet to be declared open by our party National Leadership as provided for in our constitution particularly at Section 50 (1) (2) & (2b) and Electoral Act 2010.

“It should be noted Sir, that the meeting which resulted to the purported adoption was meant for a training programme for political office holders and party leaders as announced by the Governor in the media but later turned to an adoption meeting for his own sole candidate.

“We would not have been perturbed but for responsible position been held by the set of people in our party in the state.

“We are not unaware of their fundamental right to support any aspirant, but it must be done in a manner that will preserve the rights of other aspirants to have a level plain ground in the contest.

“It is most unbecoming to compel and hoodwink party officers to sign a prepaid document that was meant to adopt a particular aspirant as a sole candidate for an election, the primary of which may not be until very late in the first quarter of 2018.”

Some of those who signed the petition are .Rt Hon Dele Olugbemi, (former Speaker Ekiti House of Assembly); Bar Afolabi Ojuawo, former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Mosu Aguda, (former Senatorial District Chairman); Hon B. J. Abegunde (former Member House of Representatives); Bar Longe Sule (former House of Assembly Majority Leader) Hon Segun Ola ( Former Member Ekiti State House of Assembly); Chief Femi Balogun (former Chairman Teaching Service Commission and Afenifere Leader); Hon Sola Oke (former Member, Ekiti State House of Assembly); Hon. Deji Adesua, former Commissioner; and Prince Ade Alonge, Party Leader and Afenifere chieftain.

An impeccable source at the national secretariat of the PDP confirmed to Daily Times that Makarfi has listed the petition among issues to be discussed at the next NWC meeting on Wednesday.