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Tag: Ekiti poll:

  • Ekiti: APC should be ready to accept defeat – Atiku

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Monday advised the All Progressives Congress (APC) to be ready to accept defeat in the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti State.

    Atiku said the APC should emulate the democratic gesture of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which accepted defeat in the 2015 general election.

    The former Vice President spoke when he led members of the PDP Governorship Campaign Council on a visit to Governor Ayo Fayose at Government House, Ayoba Villa, Ado Ekiti.

    Other PDP bigwigs on the trip to the governor’s office were Deputy President of the Senate, Ike

    Ekweremadu, former Senate President, David Mark, former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, his Ogun State counterpart, Gbenga Daniel and Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe.

    Atiku expressed satisfaction with the level of preparedness for the governorship poll by the PDP and expressed confidence that the party would win the election.

    He said: “We are satisfied that the PDP is prepared for this election. We hope that the APC will accept the outcome of the election. They should be democratic for the first time.

    “We have seen how democratic they are, but for the first time in 2015, we have opposition party taking over from the ruling party. We expect them to do the same.”

    Fayose alleged that the APC was planning to rig the election “having been rejected by the people,” saying the PDP had already won the election.

    He said: “They (PDP leaders) are here because they know that PDP has won this election. Everyone is on the same page with us. The only thing the APC is holding on to is to rig the election. We have told INEC that this is a pointer to the 2019 election. They should save their image.

    “The country is bigger than all of us. Let me tell them, if rigging has been tried elsewhere it won’t work here. The people will defend this election. We are aware of plans to bring thugs here to disrupt the election. The people will stand up to them.

    “The PDP leadership is in the state today to strengthen our hands and assured us of their support. I want to say that this election is about the people for the people and it must be so. Ekiti election is not only about Nigeria. The whole world is watching.”

     

  • PDP cautions INEC over Ekiti, Osun polls

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against fueling trouble in the upcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States.

    This followed allegation by the main opposition party that INEC had secretly recruited 4,000 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as independent observers for the July 14 and September 22 governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States respectively.

    In a statement issued on Tuesday by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said the electorate in Ekiti and Osun were already aware of the plots to use the alleged illegal observers to manipulate the electoral process in the two states.

    According to the PDP, the plot is for the “observers” to endorse irregularities, approve fictitious results and subvert the will of the electorate in favour of the APC.

    Vowing to resist such impunity, the party demanded the immediate withdrawal of the 4,000 “observers” by INEC in the interest of the country and its democracy.

    The statement said: “INEC, in this design, should not forget that these states are immutable strongholds of the PDP; that the citizens are politically sophisticated and will in no way hesitate to confront, with all energy available in a democracy, any attempt by anybody to sabotage the election.

    “It is an incontrovertible fact that the PDP has the largest demography of genuine followership and unprecedented mass appeal across Ekiti State, particularly due to the sterling performance of Governor Ayo Fayose. We also have the most popular candidate in this election and the direction of the political tide is clear to all.

    “In this regard, the national leadership of the PDP states in very clear terms that our structures across all the electoral wards in Ekiti and Osun States have been put at alert, as we will not allow anybody to use any means whatsoever to manipulate the electoral process.

    “The PDP therefore issues this as a direct caution to these illegal observers to steer clear of Ekiti and Osun States and also to desist from testing the will of the people as they will in no way stomach any attempt by anybody to subvert their will at the polls.

    “On this note, we charge the INEC Chairman to immediately douse the tension by instantly withdrawing the illegal observers and constituting a process of selecting new and genuine observers with full participation of all major stakeholders, particularly the political parties contesting in the elections. Anything short of this is unacceptable and will be highly and firmly resisted by the people.”

     

  • 35 parties to participate in Ekiti guber poll

    The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said on Tuesday that 35 political parties would participate in the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti State.

    There are 68 registered political parties in the country.

    Yakubu disclosed this after hosting a delegation of female parliamentarians in West Africa.

    The delegation was led by Assaita Daffe.

    The visiting team was at the INEC headquarters to formally present ECOWAS publication on Gender and Election Strategic Framework and Action Plan.

    While disclosing that the timeline for submission of candidates’ names has elapsed, Yakubu said there is still room for any of the 35 political parties to substitute candidates if necessary.

    He had earlier assured the visiting team that the Commission was committed to working with political parties in achieving increased women representation in politics.

     

  • Ekiti APC elders urge support for Fayemi

    The Elders’ Forum of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has congratulated the party’s flag bearer in July’s governorship election in the state, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on his victory at the party’s primary held last Saturday.

    The body urged all leaders and members of the party to support Fayemi and ensure his victory in the July 14 governorship election.

    It, however, commended Fayemi for reaching out to co-contestants who lost to him in the shadow election and giving them roles in the Candidate Advisory Council.

    In a communiqué issued at the end of its meeting, a copy of which was made available to our reporter on Tuesday, the Forum hailed the aspirants and delegates for conducting themselves in a peaceful manner at the rescheduled primary.

    The communiqué signed by the Ekiti APC Elders’ Forum Chairman, Chief George Akosile and Secretary, Chief Abiodun Ajayi, commended the Governor Umaru Al-Makura-led Electoral Panel for overseeing a credible and transparent primary election.

    The elders advised party leaders, aspirants and members to put the acrimony of the shadow election behind them and forge a common front for the governorship poll.

    They said with the primary election over, all hands must be on deck to win Ekiti for the party and bring the state into the progressive bloc.

    The Forum, however, condemned the circumstances that led to the inconclusive primary of May 5 at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado-Ekiti.

    It also noted with displeasure what it called “the barbaric behavior” of some people who “desecrated” the APC secretariat in Ado-Ekiti with fetish objects.

     

     

  • Let’s join hands and chase out Fayose – Adeyeye

    Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, has called on the people of the state to join hands together and chase Governor Ayo Fayose and his protégé, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, out of the state at the July 14 governorship election.

    The former Minister of State for Works said the latest information from the Debt Management Office (DMO) revealed that Fayose borrowed N57 billion since returning to office in October 2014.

    Adeyeye, who spoke Thursday evening while featuring on a programme on Voice 89.9 FM, disclosed that the PDP national leadership offered him the privilege of nominating the deputy governorship candidate and a senatorial ticket for himself to keep him in the party.

    The former minister quit the PDP earlier in the day and accused the governor of intimidating delegates that voted at Tuesday’s PDP governorship primary which he lost to Olusola.

    He vowed to contest the governorship election on the platform of another party to be unveiled before the May 15 close of candidates’ nomination as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

     

  • Monarchs meet Fayose, want Ekiti South to produce governor

    Traditional rulers in Ekiti State on Saturday urged political parties in the state to pick their candidates from Ekiti South Senatorial District ahead of the July 14 governorship election in the state.

    Ekiti South has not produced the governor since the state was created in 1996.

    Warning political parties to take their warning seriously, the monarchs said they would mobilise their people to vote against any political party that ignore their request at the election proper.

    Rising from an emergency meeting held with Governor Ayo Fayose on Saturday, the Obas vowed to mobilize their subjects to vote against any party that picks its candidate outside Ekiti South.

    The Elemure of Emure Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Adebowale Adebayo, who spoke on behalf of the royal fathers, said their position was in the interest of justice, equity and fair play.

    He said: “We should have a candidate who should emerge from the south irrespective of political party. That will show fairness. Where a particular area is not considered in the scheme of things, that will amount to marginalisation.”

    The Ologotun of Ogotun Ekiti, Oba Samuel Oladapo Oyebade, said the people of the south had waited for too long to occupy the state number one political seat.

    “We are part of Ekiti State. Any candidate from Ekiti South should be supported,” he said.

     

     

  • Buhari deserves second term in office – Arise

    Former Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatisation, Ayo Arise, said on Thursday that President Muhammadu Buhari deserves a second term in office to consolidate on his achievements in office.

    Arise, who said Buhari “is eminently qualified for eight years in office” said the President’s fate would be determined by majority of Nigerians who elected him in 2015 and not power mongers warning him not to seek re-election in 2019.

    Speaking with journalists, Arise, who is aspiring for the governorship seat on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti, promised to win the state governorship election slated for July 14 if fielded as the party’s candidate.

    He spoke shortly after holding a meeting with the APC Muslim Forum at his campaign headquarters along Iyin Road in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    Arise canvassed the support of the Muslims in Ekiti State, promising that his administration would carry all segments of the population along in sharing of resources and positions.

    “President Buhari was voted overwhelmingly. It is no longer the decision of one or two or three people to say do not contest; that is for the public to decide.

    “I am in support of Buhari going for a second time because the man is entitled to eight years as long as his health can handle it and with what we are seeing, he has that capacity,” he said.

    Arise urged the APC leadership to organize a transparent and credible primary to position the party for overwhelming victory at the governorship election.

     

     

  • Ekiti poll: Fayose intimidating aspirants – Adeyeye

    An aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Ekiti State governorship election, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, has accused Governor Ayo Fayose of intimidating and harassing other aspirants in the race.

    Adeyeye, who was at the Abuja national secretariat of the party to submit his nomination documents, said the governor was making the contest tough for aspirants other than his anointed candidate, Olusola Eleka, who is also the deputy governor of the state.

    “The Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, in September last year, said he had already chosen his governorship candidate for the party. Even the so called candidate said everything was over. We laughed and said that’s not possible.

    “This party has a constitution and we believe that we should follow the constitution of the party. There are processes in which candidates are chosen,” Adeyeye said.

    Admitting that the governor has the right to support any aspirant of his choice, Adeyeye said Fayose’s insistence on foisting his anointed candidate on the party has created an atmosphere of fear in the state.

    “This has created an atmosphere of fear in the state as we speak. So many party members are so afraid to associate themselves with other aspirants apart from the one anointed by the governor. But we are not bothered 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, where the entire body of the party has been deployed against you. You are being intimidated and harassed on a daily basis just for no other reason that they are supporting you. All we ask for is a free and fair election and total security for everybody coming to participate in the election,” he said.

     

     

  • PDP alleges plans by APC, INEC to rig Ekiti poll

    The leadership of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has alleged plans by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rig the Ekiti State governorship election billed for July.

    PDP National Chairman Prince Uche Secondus made the allegation yesterday when the German Ambassador in Nigeria, Dr. Bernhard Schlagheck, visited the party leadership at its Abuja secretariat.

    Secondus complained to the envoy that instead of fulfilling its campaign promises to Nigerians, the APC administration had plunged the country into crises.

    The party chair, who called on the international community to prevail on the incumbent administration to ensure a free and fair election, said the Ekiti poll would be the first test for the administration.

    He said information indicated that APC and INEC had perfected plans rig the election.

    Secondus said election rigging and vote manipulation had been the causes of leadership crisis in Africa, adding: “When citizens are deprived of their right to vote, it generates crisis that may be difficult to control.”

    He said: “?Nigeria is an important country in Africa. The best we can give to our people is an election that will be transparent, an election that will be credible, an election that all- both local and international- will welcome.

    “So we urge APC and INEC to ensure one man, one vote. We did that during the election in 2015, but they are not assuring us of this, which means ?there is a great fear in the land that the election is not going to be free and fair? despite the promises made by INEC.”

    The German Ambassador said he was visiting parties ahead of the 2019 elections, adding that he would report the information gathered to his country.

  • APC, INEC planning to rig Ekiti poll – PDP

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday alleged plans by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rig the Ekiti State governorship election slated for July.

    The National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, made the allegation when the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Bernhard Schlagheck, paid a courtesy call on the party’s leadership at its Abuja secretariat.

    The PDP chairman told the envoy that instead of fulfilling its campaign promises to Nigerians, the APC administration has plunged the country into several crises.

    Secondus, who called on the international community to prevail on the government to ensure free and fair election in Ekiti.

    He said the election would be the first test for the administration.

    According to him, available information indicated that the APC and the INEC have perfected plans rig the election.

    Secondus observed that election rigging and vote manipulation have been the major cause of leadership crisis in Africa, adding that “when citizens are deprived of their right to vote, it generates crisis that would be difficult to control.”

    He said: “‎Nigeria is an important country in the continent of Africa. The best we can give to our people is election that will be transparent, election that will be credible, election that all; both local and international will welcome.

    “So we urge the governing APC that the best they can give this country is to offer one man, one vote. We did that during the electoral campaign in 2015 but they are not assuring this, which means that ‎there is a great fear in the land that the election is not going to be free and fair‎ despite all the promises made by INEC.”