Ekiti PDP threatens mass defection if …

The Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Thursday, declared those supporting a faction of the party loyal to the Court of Appeal recognised National Chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, as outcasts and saboteurs, who are interested in wrecking the party.

The party took the decision at a stakeholders’ meeting held in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State, where the party began mobilisation in readiness for the 2018 governorship poll.

Describing Governor Ayodele Fayose’s contributions to the party at both local and national levels as exemplary, the PDP under the leadership of the State Chairman, Barrister Gboyega Oguntuase, passed confidence votes in the leaderships of the governor and Senator Ahmed Makarfi as well as the State Working Committee of the party.

The former Deputy Governor of the state, Chief Paul Alabi, moved the motion for the passage of votes of confidence in Fayose, Makarfi and Oguntuase and seconded by all the party members.

Present at the occasion were a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Kehinde Agboola; the Chairman in Ikole Council, Mr. Azees Yusuf; member of the House of Assembly, Hon. Titilayo Owolabi-Akerele; and Chairman, Ikole Council, Mr. Adeyeye Adeyanju, among others.

Alabi, who spoke extensively on the party’s fortunes since Fayose came on board, said: “We want to warn Senator Buruji Kashamu and Senator Sheriff to stop meddling in the politics of Ekiti. Ekiti belongs to us and not to interlopers.

“When did you see any Ekiti man controlling the politics of Ogun?

Senator Kashamu must stop using some renegades to destabilise our party.

“Let me also say this, Fayose remains the voice of the voiceless in Nigeria. He is a pride to Ekiti PDP and Nigeria at large and wherever he goes, we shall follow him en masse”, he said.

The factional PDP chairman, Oguntuase appealed to members to stand united so that the 2018 poll can be a work-over for the party.

“Winning the election in 2018 is a done deal, but we want to keep our records flying. In the last election, we defeated Governor Kayode Fayemi in all the 16 local government areas and that feat we are going to maintain in the next poll”, he said.