Ekiti guber poll: We are contesting against Fayose – Adeyeye

…Accuses governor of coercing members ahead of primary
An aspirant in the Ekiti State governorship election on the platform of the People Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Dayo Adeyeye, has alleged that all other aspirants for the state governorship election except the incumbent deputy governor, are contesting against governor Ayodele Fayose.

He accused Fayose of coercing members of the party to support Mr. Kolapo Olusola, who he has anointed to succeed him in office and harassing supporters of other aspirants.

The immediate past National Publicity Secretary of PDP said the governor is using state and party apparatus to stifle other aspirants and their supporters ahead of the May 8, 2018 PDP governorship primary in the state.

Adeyeye who spoke with journalists immediately after he returned his nomination form at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, said Fayose’s hypothesis of choosing his successor is old fashioned and alien to modern democracy.

“The governor of Ekiti State Ayo Fayose, in September last year said he has already chosen his governorship candidate for the party, even the candidate said everything was over, we laughed and said that is not possible because this party has a constitution and we believe that we should follow the constitution of the party.

“There are processes through which candidates emerge in any political party and that was never complied with but I am happy that it has been disregarded and we are going to the primaries of the party.

He is still insisting around the whole state that he has an anointed candidate. As he has said, he has his right to support any candidate that he likes but he should not coercing party members to support his candidate. He should not use state and party apparatus to stifle other aspirants and their supporters. Our supporters are being harassed

‘This has created an atmosphere of fear in the state as we speak whereby so many party members are so afraid in associating themselves with other aspirants apart from the one anointed by the governor.

But we are not bordered about all this, we are still confident that we are going to win. This is not the right time to contest for governorship in any state, were the entire body of the party has been diploid against you who are been intimidated and harassed on daily basis just for no other reason that they are supporting you.

Speaking on the fate of other contestants, he said ” All the aspirant are collaborating and we are working together and I believe at the end of the day one will win. Actually we are contesting against the governor.

“But our hope lies in the neutral umpire, which is the party and the process put in place to ensure free and fair level playing ground for the primary. All we ask for is a free and fair election and total security for everybody coming to participate in the election”.

Submitting his nomination form to the party’s National Organising Secretary, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd), Adeyeye said he threw his hat in the ring because of the the confidence he has in the present leadership of the party to provide a level playing ground for all aspirants and avoid the pitfall of imposition of candidates.

He said the party must have learnt its lesson after going through the “most difficult period of its history during our tenure” He, however, praised the party for the courage to weather the storm”.

He lauded the National Working Committee of the PDP for putting in place a comprehensive time table and guideline for all elective posts, such as publication of names of delegates that will participate in the the primary, setting up of a 3- man primary ad-hoc, committee, to ensure transparency.

“This is a welcome development and the first time in the history of the party that we will be seeing this kind of time table, which I believe is the sign of transparency to ensure fairness.

In the past where the ad-hoc delegate election committee are inaugurated three days or two days before the primaries there were so many disputes which were never resolved till the day of the primaries and will just rush people to the primaries without knowing who and who are the delegate but it has been corrected now.

‘We had the same problem during the Anambra primaries which is one of the things that created problems for us in Anambra state. So for the National Organization Secretary and the NWC to have come out with this time table, we are very happy and glad and we believe their intentions are pure and they will ensure free and fair primaries as the whole thing will start on 21st next week”, he said.

Welcoming the aspirant, the National Organising Secretary, Col. Akobundu rtd) commended Adeyeye for having confidence in the party, saying “:we are pleased to note that our party is sound, on the right path and attractive to showing interest in using our platform to realise their ambitions to occupy one political position or the other.

He promised that “we are ready to provide a level playing field for all aspirants to play in an acceptable and transparent manner”.

Akobundu urged all aspirants and their supporters to play by the rule by adhering strictly to the party’s constitution as the party leadership will not deviate from doing what is right to ensure free the interest of every member is protected.