Fayose: To Suspend Me From PDP Is To Suspend PDP From Ekiti THIS is certainly not the best of times for the Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the intrigues towards adopting a method to pick the flag bearer for the 2014 governorship was not only deepening the crisis within the party, but getting bloody to the extent that some executive members had been severely beaten right inside the party secretariat, while some had gone into hiding. Not fewer than 25 aspirants have picked nomination forms for the single ticket, with about 19 coming from Ekiti South Senatorial district, the zone that has been claiming it is their turn to produce the next governor. But while the party was still battling to grapple with the controversy about zoning that had almost polarised its members, the presidency was quoted to have urged the party to adopt consensus arrangement to pick its candidate, instead of direct primary election, which some aspirants, especially former governor Ayodele Fayose, vehementlycanvassed for. About two weeks ago, the chairman of the party, chief Makanjuola Ogundipe announced the setting up of a Consensus Screening Committee headed by a retired high court judge, Justice Edward Ojuolape. Other members of the committee include a former member of the Board of Trustees of the party, Chief Dayo Okondo, the state vice chairman (North) Hon. Olatunde Olatunde, Modupe Johnson, Kola Lawal and a former acting governor of the state, Mr. Tope Ademiluyi. Other members of the committee are a former Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Kola Adefemi, Mr Adeoti Kumuyi, a former member of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Titilayo Akindahunsi, Dele Ajibola and Mr. Omolade Gabson. The state chairman explained that the constitution of the committee was in line with the advice from party leaders that the party should consider a consensus arrangement in choosing its governorship candidate. He assured all aspirants and partymembers of fairness and equity in the selection process and solicited the support of all to make the exercise a success. But less than twenty four hours after the committee was set up, Fayose, who had been canvassing for primary election kicked against it and described the committee as unconstitutional. He did not only reject the committee, but drew a battle line with Ogundipe, who many believed Fayose installed as chairman of the party. Fayose vehemently argued that consensus arrangement did not only contravene PDP’s constitution, but noted that some names in the newly formed committee were ardent supporters of an aspirant. According to him, the PDP Constitution states that picking of candidates shall be done through a free and fair primary election. The former governor in a press statement signed by his media aide, Idowu Adelusi saidhe would not appear before the committee. To him, the original intention of President Jonathan was to reduce possible problems in the build up to next year’s governorship election. According to Fayose, “I am sure thatin the mind of the President, he does not want a process shrouded in secrecy and compromised. It is obvious that some individuals are taking advantage of this advice to cause mischief and disaffection in the party for personal gains, which will be resisted. It is clear by the composition of the committee that there is a clear agenda. I hereby reject the 11-man committee and I will not appear before it or have anything to do with whatever decision they reach because some of them are known supporters of some aspirants and a free andfair selection cannot be guaranteed under the committee.” But Fayose resolved to fight on, according tohim, “My right to fair contest as guaranteed by the party’s constitution will be pursued doggedly to a logical conclusion. I have paid my dues in the party including the non-refundable deposit for a free and fair contest, the party has no moral justification to hand pick a candidate. The party’s constitution and guidelines equally give me the right of contest in a free and fair primaryelection.” Fayose however dared the state chairman tofish out a consensus candidate out of over 25 aspirants jostling for the party ticket and allow the person to face him at a keenly contested primary election. But another strong contender for the ticket, Senator Gbenga Aluko, believes that the party was right and should go ahead to inaugurate the committee. He, however, warned that no member of the party has right to query the position of the presidency that consensus arrangement should be adopted to reduce tension in Ekiti PDP. He charged the party leadership to wield the big stick against any aspirant whose activities undermine the authority of the President. According to the former senator, “we shouldnot be in this game for the sake of being thePDP candidate. There are so many parties where you can go to if you are desirous of being a candidate.
Posted on: Mon, 05 Aug 2013 01:45:04 +0000
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