The mystery helicopter that landed at Ekiti Government House had just departed now.
The helicopter left the Government House helipad at 2.41 pm.
It was alleged that the chopper brought cash and other election “logistics” to assist the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) achieve victory at Saturday’s poll.
A source disclosed that the chopper was mobilised to Ekiti by a Southsouth governor.
The chopper had arrived at about noon.
A helicopter has just landed at the new Government House, Ayoba Villa, Ado-Ekiti.
The chopper landed at the Government House helipad few minutes past noon.
It has been alleged in some quarters the chopper brought cash from a Southsouth governor.
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) members have been trooping to the Government House to collect money.
They have been entering Government House through the small gate at the old Governor’s Office.
A female party member was seen complaining that he was not given his own share of the cash.
She said: “They have not been given my own why some have been given twice.
“Anyone that collects this money and vote against Eleka shall not live to spend this money.“
The Resident Electoral Commissioner of Ekiti State Prof. Abdul Ganiy Olayinka Raji has said that all the sensitive materials for the Saturday election has been delivered to all the 16 local government areas in the state.
Raji disclosed this Thursday while speaking with journalist in his office noting that the materials were collected at the Central Bank in the presence of all the political parties before they were dispatched to various destination accompanied by eight senior INEC officials.
According to him, the materials were monitored directly in his office through official vehicle tracker connected to a giant television screen which indicates the movement of the materials until all got to the respective 16 local government headquarters of the state.
The commissioner disclosed that Ekiti state has 913,334 voters out of which 646, 000 collected their PV cards while about 250,000 are yet to collect their cards.
He explained that all the process used by the commission was transparent with the involvement of representatives of all the parties participating in the election.
“We have 35 political parties participating in this coming, gubernatorial election, though 40 political parties initially notified us of their participation, but at the last minutes only 35 parties are participating.
He explained that the commission did not face any challenges because the fear of how the sensitive materials will get to the final destination was addressed through improved technology that gave the commission to monitor, track and even listen to all the communication going on in all the vehicles deplored.
He explained that Ekiti is calm and all hands are on deck to conduct credible, fair and free election in the state.
Four days to the governorship election in Ekiti State, Ekiti State Police Command has nabbed two members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who were found in possession of already thumprinted papers in favour of PDP in the Saturday governorship election.
A statement by Director of Media and Publicity, Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation, Mr. Wole Olujobi, identified the two suspects as Ashiru Gbenga and Olaide Olayeye, who were promptly arrested, interrogated and detained.
They are now helping the police in their investigation.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Caleb Ikechukwu, when contacted by our reporter promised to get back later.
As about 12 noon on Wednesday, intelligence report indicated that one Vien Foton vehicle marked KTU 477 DG Lagos was parked at Fayose Market along Ajilosun Street, Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
Upon information to the police headquarters on the suspicious parking, a team of detectives was deployed to the scene to conduct a search on the vehicle where two leaflets of already thumprinted ballot papers were found in favour of PDP.
The die is cast for the Ekiti State governorship election scheduled to hold next Saturday, 14th July, 2018. Correspondent, Odunayo Ogunmola, in this report, examines the state of the race, local government by local government and reports on other dynamics that will shape the contest.
THE attention of the world will be focused on Ekiti State on 14th July, 2018 as the people of the state go to the polls to elect a new governor.
The tenure of the outgoing governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), expires on 15th October, 2018, since he took the oath of office on 16th October, 2014.
In the last governorship poll, conducted on 21st June, 2014, Fayose of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) defeated the then incumbent governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who ran on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Fayose, who is constitutionally barred from seeking another term, has he taken oath of office two times (2003 and 2014), hopes to hand over to his deputy, Prof. Kolapo Olusola.
Olusola emerged as the PDP candidate at a primary election conducted on 8th May, 2018 and has been handed the party’s flag at a mega rally held on 5th July, 2018.
On the other hand, Fayemi defeated a strong field of 33 aspirants to emerge as the APC candidate at a keenly contested primary held on 12th May, 2018.
The former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, who is taking a second shot at the governorship seat, lost in the 2014 poll.
Will Fayose succeed in installing a successor, a feat no outgoing governor had managed to achieve since return to democracy in 1999?
Will Fayemi, on the other hand, stop Fayose from achieving the record by staging his own comeback to power?
It must be stated that the two major political parties, the ruling PDP and the main opposition APC have the capacity to win the coveted governorship crown.
They have the reach, presence, structures, resources, manpower and members in all the 16 local government areas of the state.
Some analysts said the other political parties are there just to make up the number as some of them sprang up few months to the election while others were merely used as platforms to contest by aspirants who failed in other parties.
While the PDP enjoys power of incumbency at the state level, the APC which is angling to force its way into the Government House again, is enjoying the backing of the Federal Government seemingly determined to add Ekiti to the number of states it controls.
Ekiti State is divided into three senatorial districts: Ekiti North, Ekiti Central and Ekiti South and 16 local government areas.
Ekiti North and Ekiti Central have five local government areas each while Ekiti South has six local government areas.
The local government areas in Ekiti North are Moba (11 wards), Ido/Osi, (11 wards) Ilejemeje (10 wards), Oye (12 wards) and Ikole (12wards).
Ado (13 wards), Irepodun/Ifelodun (11 wards), Ekiti West (11 wards), Ijero (12 wards) and Efon (10 wards) are in Ekiti Central. Ekiti South is made up of Ekiti Southwest (11 wards), Ikere (11 wards), Ise/Orun (10 wards), Emure (10 wards), Gbonyin (10 wards) and Ekiti East (12 wards).
Votes are up for grabs in total number of 177 wards and 2,195 polling units. Total number of registered voters in the state is 913,334.
Out of the 913, 334 voters who had registered, 630,000 had collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) as of Wednesday, July 4.
The electorate in Ekiti State are highly unpredictable in terms of voting pattern as factors that determine who wins include candidates’ personality and acceptability, party strength, support of critical segments of the population, policies of the government in power, manifestos of the parties seeking to upstage it and of course, parties’ financial war chest.
Although the issue of zoning cropped up in the run-up to the party primaries, the Ekiti electorates always look for candidates that are charismatic and have mass appeal.
It appears the trend is changing in favour of APC and Fayemi owing to many factors; chief of which is low morale among workers who are enduring unprecedented suffering in the history of the state.
Core civil servants and secondary school teachers are owed four month arrears, local government workers and primary school teachers seven months and workers in government tertiary institutions seven months.
Pensioners are owed eight month arrears of monthly benefits while the present government had not paid any gratuity since it came to power in 2014.
The issue of how financial reliefs from the Federal Government in terms of two tranches of bailout funds, Paris Club refund and Budget Support Fund were expended still left many wondering why the arrears had not been cleared.
A good number of workers and retirees died over hardship occasioned by the non-payment of their entitlements since the PDP government came to power.
A civil servant recently described owing workers arrears deep into election period a “political suicide and poisoned chalice” which any reasonable government hoping to retain power must avoid.
Another factor working in favour of the APC is the support it will enjoy from the Federal Government in terms of deployment of instruments of coercion, resources and personnel.
Many believe that support from the Goodluck Jonathan Presidency played a pivotal role in swinging victory in Fayose’s favour in 2014.
Political pundits believe that the support enjoyed from the Presidency by the PDP in 2014 will be enjoyed by the APC in 2018.
Massive defections of prominent members and leaders that have been hitting the PDP, including serving members of the National Assembly, continued very close to the election.
Defection of key PDP members from Ado and Ikere to the APC is not a good omen for the ruling party in the state while other senior PDP members had left for other parties, leaving PDP emaciated.
But it seems APC should not go to sleep believing all is done and dusted as the PDP cannot be underestimated, given Fayose’s political sagacity.
Despite the loss of many party members and supporters to the opposition, Fayose and by extension, Olusola, still enjoys support of some segment of the population like artisans, commercial motorcycle association, a section of the drivers’ unions.
WHO’S AHEAD?
The two major parties, the ruling PDP and the opposition APC have structures in all the wards and local government areas. They have some party chieftains they are relying upon in their respective localities to swing victory in their favour on July 14. However, it must be noted that the projections below are subject to changes in the dynamics of politics as the game is highly unpredictable.
ADO
Personalities expected to work for PDP victory at the poll include former Ado Local Government Chairman and deputy governorship candidate, Mr. Deji Ogunsakin, current council chairman, Mr. Clement Bamisile; House of Assembly member representing Ado 1, Mr. Musa Arogundade; Assembly member representing Ado 2, Mr. Tope Fasanmi; SUBEB Chairman, Senator Bode Ola; and two former council chairmen, Mrs. Tosin Ajisafe-Aluko and Mr. Taye Fasuba.
APC gladiators in the state capital include deputy governorship candidate, former council chairman, former commissioner and now deputy governorship candidate, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi; former deputy governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu; former National Assembly member, Senator Babafemi Ojudu; former commissioner, Alhaji Ayodele Jinadu; oil magnate, Chief Remi Oguntuase; former presidential aide, Mr. Bodunde Adeyanju; former NULGE President, Chief Oluyemi Esan; two former Assembly members, Mr. Tope Olanipekun and Mr. Edu Mayokun, former Sports Council Chairman, Mr. Ade Adetola; two former LG secretaries, Mr. Fatai Adeyemi and Mr. Odunayo Talabi, who had just joined from PDP.
The votes of Ado are unpredictable and they can go either way owing to the fact that it is a densely populated city with non-indigenes outnumbering indigenes.
Verdict: battle ground
IKERE
Some PDP chieftains in Ikere include the deputy governor and PDP flag bearer, Olusola; House of Assembly member representing Ikere 1, Mr. Wale Ayeni; Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Olayinka Ogundayomi; current Ikere LG chairman, Mr. Aderemi Ayeni; former LG chairman, Mr. Ola Alonge.
Ikere is the hometown of the PDP governorship candidate and naturally he should win his base. But there are concerns about division in the town, which could affect Olusola. The town has three other governorship candidates among who are two former governors vying on the platform of other parties. They are Chief Adebisi Omoyeni of Mega Party of Nigeria (MPN) and Chief Abiodun Aluko of Accord. Two of them left PDP over the
crisis that trailed the alleged imposition of Olusola by Fayose before the primary was conducted. A young candidate, Mr. Tosin Ajibare of Independent Democrats (ID) is also vying for governorship. The votes to be raked in by other aspirants who have their supporters in the
town could whittle down Olusola’s votes and this may work in favour of APC which is making inroads in the community. APC ‘warriors’ in Ikere include five governorship aspirants: Dr. Wole Oluyede, Chief Sesan
Fatoba, Mr. Kola Alabi, Mr. Funminiyi Afuye and Mr. Muyiwa Olumilua.
Others include former old Ondo State Governor, Bamidele Olumilua and new entrant to APC and House of Assembly member representing, Mr. Sunday Akinniyi.
Verdict: PDP
IDO/OSI
PDP has won consistently in this council area since 1999 but the winning streak appears to be under threat for the first time in 19 years. This is because many of those who made it happen for PDP in the past had quit the party. They include former Governor Segun Oni, former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, who has moved to the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Other former PDP members now in APC camp include former council chairman, Mr. Yomi Ayorinde; former Director General of Micro Credit Agency, Mr. Cyril Fasuyi. APC chieftains in the area include former House of Assembly Deputy
Speaker, Chief Adetunji Orisalade; former SUBEB Chairman, Prince Akintade Olayisade and former council chairman, Pastor Gbenga Agbeyo.
The PDP gladiators in the area include Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Modupe Alade; House of Representatives member for Ido/Osi/Moba/Ilejemeje Federal Constituency, Mr. Thaddeus Aina; House
of Assembly member for Ido/Osi 1; Mr. Jacob Olayode; House of Assembly member for Ido/Osi 2, Mr. Abiola Jeje and Commissioner for Works, Mrs. Funmilayo Ogun.
Verdict: APC
MOBA
This local government used to be a progressives stronghold but it went to the PDP in the 2014 election. It will be a straight fight this time around. Olusola is depending on House of Assembly Speaker, Mr. Kola Oluwawole; House of Assembly member for Moba 2, Mr. Badejo Anifowose and Commissioner for Information, Mr. Lanre Ogunsuyi. Resisting PDP challenge are APC chieftains including former Assembly member Mr. Olajide Olaniyi; former Moba LG chairman, Mr. David Olusoga; former Senior Special Assistant on Legal Matters, Mr. Ibrahim Olanrewaju and a veteran politician, Chief Michael Atejioye.
Verdict: APC
ILEJEMEJE
PDP chieftains in this area include the Senator representing Ekiti North, Duro Faseyi, House of Assembly member for Ilejemeje, Mrs. Cecilia Dada and LG Chairman, Mr. Ebenezer Oladipupo. On the APC side are Afenifere chieftain and Second Republic Senator, Chief Ayo Fasanmi; former Assembly member, Mr. Segun Erinle; former LG Chairman, Prince Adegoroye Bamigboye and former commissioner, Mr. Folorunso Olabode.
Verdict: APC
EKITI EAST
PDP top notchers are Senate Deputy Minority Whip, Mrs. Biodun Olujimi; House of Assembly member for Ekiti East 1, Mr. Ojo Ade Fajana; Assembly member for Ekiti East 2, Mr. Dare Pelemo; former Assembly member, Mr. Dele Ajibola and Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Mr. Taelolu Otitoju.
APC chieftains working to deliver the area to their party include former Speaker, Mr. Femi Bamisile; former commissioner, Mr. Apalara Wole-Adewumi; former Assembly member/council chairman, Mr. Rotimi Ajidara; former Assembly members, Mr. Akinloye Akinyemi and Mr. Gbenga Falaye.
Verdict: Battleground
EKITI WEST
This local government is up for grabs and can go either way. Leading the fight for PDP is House of Assembly Deputy Speaker, Mr. Sina Animasaun; former Deputy Speaker, Mr. Olusegun Adewumi; Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Kehinde Odebunmi; current LG chairman, Mr. Francis Ayodele and his predecessor, Mr. Kolawole Omotunde.
APC bigwigs expected to be on the field for their party include State Chairman, Chief Olajide Awe; former Assembly member, Mr. Gbenga Odebunmi; former Assembly member, Mr. Kayode Fasakin; former LG Chairman, Mr. Tajudeen Akingbolu and former Attorney General, Mr. Wale Fapohunda.
Verdict: APC
EKITI SOUTHWEST
APC received many PDP members into its fold which may be the deciding factor. Fayemi’s foot soldiers in this council area include former Chief of Staff, Yemi Adaramodu; former Assembly member, Tope Agidi; former LG chairman, Mr. Genge Kola; another former LG chairman, Dr. Azeez Olaniyan; former Commissioner, Chief Oluwole Ariyo; former Assembly member, Mr. Amire Kolade; former Special Assistant (Media) to Deputy Governor, Mrs. Yemisi Ayokunle, former ministerial aide, Mr. Makinde Araoye and Mr. Yemi Alatise.
On the PDP side are current LG chairman, Mr. Lanre Omolase; House of Assembly member for Ekiti Southwest 1; Mr. Wale Onigiobi; Assembly member for Ekiti West 2, Mr. Michael Adedeji; Commissioner for Education, Mr. Jide Egunjobi and Alhaji Gani Bankole.
Verdict: APC
IKOLE
Former Deputy Governor, Chief Paul Alabi; House of Representatives member, Mr. Kehinde Agboola leads Fayose’s foot soldiers which include House of Assembly member for Ikole 2, Mrs. Titi Owolabi; current LG Chairman, Mrs. Abiola Olukayode and Commissioner for Public Utilities, Chief Tunde Ogunleye.
APC stalwarts expected to make difference include House of Assembly Minority Leader, Chief Gboyega Aribisogan; former Assembly member, Chief Adebayo Morakinyo; former Civil Service Commission Chairman, Alhaji Afolabi Ogunlayi; former Special Adviser, Chief Biodun Akin Fasae; former Pension Board Commissioner, Chief Segun Ajibulu, Mrs. Moji Fafure and Mr. Samuel Abejide.
Verdict: APC
IREPODUN/IFELODUN
This is local government area is the home base of Governor Ayo Fayose and former Governor Adeniyi Adebayo. Fayose will do everything possible to win while Adebayo and his troops will also want to win it for their party. Backing Fayose is his Chief of Staff, Chief Dipo Anisulowo, Assembly member for Irepodun/Ifelodun 1, Mr. Posi Omodara; Assembly member for Irepodun/Ifelodun 2, Mr. Sanya Aladeyelu; current LG chairman, Mr. Dapo Olagunju and former envoy, Amb. Toye Olofintuyi.
Following Adebayo into the battle are former House of Representatives member, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele; Ambassador to Hungary, Dr. Eniola Ajayi; former LG chairman, Mr. Toba Adaramola; former Assembly member, Mr. Ayodeji Odu; APC Publicity Secretary, Chief Taiwo Olatunbosun; the Jamiu brothers, Mojeed and Hakeem.
Verdict: Battleground
IJERO
This is a PDP zone but defection of many members has weakened the party. Former Assembly Majority Leader, Mr. Lai Oke and Mrs. Yemisi Afolabi are leading the PDP fight. But APC members determined to win the area include former Assembly Chief Whip, Mrs. Omowumi Ogunlola; former governorship aspirant, Mr. Kayode Ojo; former Commissioner, Mr. Dapo Kolawole, Chief Femi Oyebanjo and former LG Chairman, Mr. Ojo Atibioke.
Verdict: APC
EFON
Fayose’s henchmen are led by Director General of Kolapo Olusola Campaign Organisation, Chief Bisi Kolawole; current House of Assembly member, Mr. Afolabi Akanni and former LG chairman, Chief Idowu Akinyele. Working to deliver for APC are former Executive Secretary of PPPRA/PTDF, Dr. Oluwole Oluleye; former Deputy Speaker, Mr. Oladapo Karonwi; former Assembly member, Mr. Folorunso Ogundele; former Commissioner, Prof. Adio Folayan; former governorship aspirant, Mr. Victor Kolade, serving House of Reps member who recently defected from PDP, Mr. Olamide Oni and former Commissioner, Mrs. Ronke Okusanya.
Verdict: APC
EMURE
Party chieftains of note have defected from the PDP leaving the current Attorney General, Mr. Kolapo Kolade as the arrowhead of Fayose’s army. But the APC parades tested politicians like former Assembly member, Mr. Febisola Adewale; another former Assembly member, Mr. Boluwade Kehinde; former Commissioners, Chief Dele Okeya and Mr. Debo Ajayi.
Verdict: APC
ISE/ORUN
This has been a PDP stronghold since 1999 but the trend is expected to change in the forthcoming poll. Former Minister of State for Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, former Secretary to the State Government, Chief Afolabi Ojuawo, former Attorney General, Mr. Owoseni Ajayi and current Assembly member, Mr. Adeniran Alagbada led key PDP members and leaders to APC leaving their former party highly weakened to mount a serious challenge. They will work with other APC chieftains they met in the party including Mr. Femi Ajayi and Mrs. Remi Ajayi to deliver the council area to APC.
Verdict: APC
GBONYIN
The PDP troops are led by former Acting Governor/Speaker, Mr. Olatunji Odeyemi; House of Reps member representing Gbonyin/Emure/Ekiti East, Mr. Akin Awodumila; current SUBEB Commissioner, Mrs. Sade Akinrinmola; current LG Chairman, Mr. Tope Ogidi and current Assembly member, Mr. Ayodele Fajemilehin. It remains to be seen whether they will be able to withstand the firepower of APC chieftains including former Senate Minority Whip, Senator Gbenga Aluko; former House of Reps member and Deputy Director General of Fayemi Campaign, Mr. Bamidele Faparusi; former governorship aspirant, Dr. Makanjuola Owolabi; former House of Reps member, Chief Aderemi Ajayi; former PDP state chairman, Chief Ropo Adesanya; former Commissioner, Mr. Paul Omotoso and former LG chairmen, Mr Femi Awe and Mr. Paul Abegunde; former Local Government Service Commissioner, Folu Ibirinde and Fayemi campaign spokesman, Mr. Wole Olujobi.
Verdict: APC
OYE
This is Fayemi’s home base and he will be complemented by party stalwarts such as Senator Ayo Arise, former House of Reps member, Mr. Bimbo Daramola; former Assembly member, Mr. Sunday Adunmo; former Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Gani Owolabi; former Assembly member for Oye 1, Mr. Ade Ajayi; former governorship aspirant, Dr (Mrs.) Mojisola Yaya-Kolade; senatorial aspirant, Dr. Olusegun Osinkolu and former Oye Council chairman, Mr. Bamitale Oguntoyinbo.
The PDP gladiators are led by the House of Assembly member representing Oye 1, Dr. Samuel Omotoso; his counterpart in Oye 2, Mr. Tunji Akinyele; Oye LG Chairman, Mr. Sunday Alonge.
Verdict: APC
Workers of College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti have declared their support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, at next Saturday’s Ekiti State governorship election.’
The college workers said they are undergoing untold hardship under the Governor Ayo Fayose-led administration over the non-payment of seven months’ salaries and reduction of subvention.
They expressed regrets that they attend to students on empty stomach while the institution had not received grants for capital projects for over three years of the Fayose regime.
The college staff revealed their suffering when their union leaders met with Fayemi and presented a list of demands to the APC candidate at a meeting held with union leaders on Friday.
Fayemi met with the leadership of the local branches of College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and Senior Staff of College of Education (SSOCOED).
They praised Fayemi for giving them good welfare during his tenure as governor, including increasing their salaries twice, repealing the law that abrogated the and payment of 22 month arrears of N900 million owed by the previous administration.
The workers also demanded the elevation of the college to a university because of the dwindling number of students seeking admission.
COEASU branch chairman, Comrade Dayo Olokesusi, advised Fayemi to make immediate payment of seven month outstanding salary arrears a priority saying the last salary collected was for that of November 2017.
He said: “The last salary we received was that of November 2017. We embarked on several strikes, no result. “We attend to students in hunger when somebody says continuity of hunger and lack. That is why we are pleading that it should be one of the first priorities. “We have made up our mind to work for you, to collaborate with you because of the way the state is being run. We are going to give you maximum support.”
Responding, Fayemi promised to work out a moratorium of six months to offset all salary arrears owed workers while he would increase the subvention if elected.
The APC candidate also debunked the opposition allegation that he was coming back to government to take vengeance against workers.
Fayemi said: “Revenge for what? How many people did I sack when I was governor? The people spreading this rumour are doing worse than sacking workers.
“I recruited more teachers and workers, I did not only pay salaries regularly but I also increased salaries of civil servants, teachers and local government workers three times and increased college salary twice.
“I am in politics to better the lives of people, I am not in politics to punish people. We are educated, we should not dignify such rumours. “During my government, Ekiti had 98 per cent enrolment figure of school children but today, Ekiti has the lowest enrolment in the Southwest.
“Pupils are not able to pay the tax imposed on them by current government, kindergarten and nursery pupils dropping out of school ”It is the pain I see in the eyes of our people anytime I drive around that motivated me to seek this office again. The current government has caused more pain for our people.”
•It’s not true says govt. as Fayemi warns against illegal collection of voters’ cards
The Enlightened Workers Forum (EWF), an interest group in the Ekiti State civil service, has raised an alarm over an alleged plot by Governor Ayodele Fayose to rig the July 14 governorship election, in favour of his party, People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’s candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola Eleka.
The group, in a press statement made available to The Nation on Friday, said it has uncovered a voters’ card data capturing process at the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), Ekiti State Command Headquarters, in Oke Ila area of Ado-Ekiti, and Fajuyi mini pavilion.
The EWF in a statement by its Coordinator, Mike Bamidele, maintained that the Ekiti Command of the PCN was acting on an agreement it had with Fayose to collate, according to the Wards, Polling Units, the VIN and serial numbers on the voter’s cards belonging to members of the Corps.
The group said the alleged action was aimed at cloning the cards and doubling the votes counted during the governorship election, for the PDP candidate to emerge victorious at the poll.
It claimed, that, Fayose had also requested for the bank details of the PCN members who have already submitted their PVCs for purported data capturing, with a promise to give each PCN member, N10,000 a day to the election, through bank alert.
“We advise the Ekiti State Command of the Peace Corps of Nigeria to steer clear of Fayose’s political antics ahead of July 14 governorship poll and not be party to any activity that could denigrate the good public image of the organisation,” the group saidDenying the alleged rigging plot, the Commissioner for Information, Lanre Ogunsuyi, described the allegation as a figment of the group’s imagination.
Ogunsuyi said: “This is a figment of their imagination, all parties are busy mobilizing and training their supporters, party agents and enlightening the electorate ahead of the election.
“No worker has submitted his card for any pecuniary gain and no cloning of cards is going on as alleged.”
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Kayode Fayemi, has warned Governor Fayose against illegal collection of workers’ voters cards through coercion, saying “voters have inalienable right to vote for candidate of their choice.”
A statement by Director, Media and Publicity of the Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation, Wole Olujobi, urged Fayose to stop alleged criminal and unauthorised collection of teachers and workers’ PVC numbers.
Fayemi said workers should be allowed to cast their votes for their preferred candidates in the coming election without any fear of intimidation by the government or its officials.
The Enlightened Workers Forum (EWF), an interest group in the Ekiti State work force, has raised an alarm over an alleged plot by Governor Ayodele Fayose to rig the July 14 governorship election in favour of his party, PDP candidate Prof Kolapo Olusola Eleka.
The group in a press statement made available to The Nation on Friday, said it has uncovered the voter’s card data capturing going on at the Peace Corps of Nigeria, Ekiti State Command Headquarters in Oke Ila area of Ado-Ekiti and Fajuyi mini pavilion.
The EWF in a statement by its Coordinator, Mike Bamidele, maintained that the Ekiti Command of the PCN was acting on an agreement had with
Fayose to collate, according to the Wards, Polling Units, the VIN and serial numbers on the voter’s cards belonging to members of the Corps.
Denying the alleged rigging plot, the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Lanre Ogunsuyi, described the allegation as a figment of imagination of the group.
Ogunsuyi said: “This is a figment of their imagination, all parties are busy mobilizing and training their supporters, party agents and enlightening the electorate ahead of the election.
“No worker has submitted his card for any pecuniary gain and no cloning of cards is going on as alleged. What is going on are political parties, PCN members are free to join any political meeting of their choice.”
The EWF said the alleged action was aimed at cloning the cards and double the vote count during the governorship election for the PDP candidate to emerge victorious at the poll.
It claimed that Fayose had also requested for the bank details of the PCN members that have already submitted their PVCs for the purported data capturing with a promise to give each PCN members N10,000 a day to the election through bank alert.
The group said: “Fayose, in his desperate moves to coerce the PCN Ekiti State Command into his devilish political tricks as the next month governorship election draws near had given the non-governmental security outfit State Employment Forms and promised to enlist their members into the State Public Service and also mobilize them as a secret security personnel to perpetrate rigging in the next month governorship election.
“We advise the Ekiti State Command of the Peace Corps of Nigeria to steer clear of Fayose’s political antics ahead of July 14 governorship poll and not be party to any activity that could denigrate the good public image of the organisation.”
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has warned Fayose against illegal collection of workers’ voter cards through coercion, saying “voters have inalienable right to vote for candidate of their choice.”
An official circular was sighted in which Fayose ordered school principals and some interest groups among teachers to collect the names, bank accounts and voter cards details of teachers in public schools for profiling.
A statement by Director, Media and Publicity of the Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation, Wole Olujobi, urged Fayose to stop alleged criminal and unauthorised collection of teachers and workers’ PVC numbers.
Fayemi said workers should be allowed to cast their votes for their preferred candidates in the coming election without any fear of intimidation by the government or its officials.
He added that compelling workers and teachers to submit their PVC numbers as a condition for salary and running grants payment or promotion amounted to undue intimidation and crude blackmail.
Fayemi made these declarations while speaking with reporters in his Isan-Ekiti country home in Oye Local Government, the last town he visited in his three-week campaign tours of the 132 towns and villages in the 16 local government areas of the state.
The APC candidate promised to provide visionary leadership through his Eight-point Agenda to redirect the state to the path of growth and development after four years of rudderless leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
He lamented that Fayose shut down the School of Agriculture Technology in Isan Ekiti and took away all the tractors and other modern farming tools in the school “at a time many other states are breaking new
grounds in agriculture development and food sufficiency”.
Fayemi explained that the College of Agriculture was designed to assist in training manpower in the agriculture sector that would in turn boost agricultural production in the state.
He also lamented that Fayose “out of ignorance” stopped the Youth in Commercial Agricultural Development (YCAD) scheme by his administration, saying that all the poor decisions by Fayose’s administration had drastically affected agricultural production in the state.
Fayemi promised to re-open the College of Agriculture and revitalise YCAD scheme, including other social security and empowerment schemes initiated by his last administration.
He also said that the state government under his watch would build one cottage industry in each of the local government areas to provide
employment for the teeming youth.
The Director General of the Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organization, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) entertain no
fear about the victory of its candidate in the July 14 governorship poll, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.
Bamidele said he has implicit confidence in the leadership of the party in Ekiti State, including former Governor Segun Oni and his group working for Fayemi to make the victory a resounding and collective one.
The Director General said these in a statement from his office and signed by his Media Aide, Ahmed Salami in Ado Ekiti on Thursday.
Recently, Oni was linked to a litigation purportedly filed in Abuja seeking the nullification of Fayemi’s victory in the party’s primary on account of his failure to resign as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in line with the party’s constitution and guidelines.
Commenting on the event that has been causing ripples in APC, Bamidele said he has no reason to doubt Oni and his commitment to Fayemi’s victory
in this election.
Bamidele said: “We are not ruling out the possibility of people having some ill-feelings about certain issues in our party, but that should not degenerate to the
level where people can act as fifth columnists in their own party.
“Ekiti APC can’t be immuned from crisis just like every other parties because we have diverse backgrounds and our temperaments differ in the way we handle issues. Let me say this, the doors of the party are wide open to entertain complaints and trash them in the interest of everybody.
“This is not the time to suspect anyone unduly. We should see ourselves as one big family and prevent anyone from hiding under social media to break our ranks.
“As the leader of Fayemi’s campaign for this election, we are ready to work with everybody and urge the leaders of all committees working within our campaign structures to be receptive to everybody and refrain from act that can lead to rancor and polarization before this election.
“Dr Fayemi in his address after clinching the party’s ticket displayed humility by openly expressed his readiness to work with all groups. He later visited other 32 co-contestants for the ticket and this prevented the widely envisaged defections of bigwigs in APC.
“We are not going into this race with divided mind. We are going into this election to win and we are rest assured that all our members will contribute to this victory.
“We have no reason to be suspecting these men who decided to join the APC’s moving train, because our party is receptive and we have constitution that guarantees safety for all members.
“There is no class differences in APC, you can only get that in PDP and that was why the party had always been in perpetual crisis. Our party has
respect for everybody, regardless of whether you are old or new members.”