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Tag: Ekiti

  • Ekiti gubernatorial election: I am ready for challenge – Olusola

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the July 14  election Ekiti state, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, has expressed readiness to take up the challenge in ensuring his victory.

    Olusola, who is also the Deputy Governor of the state, said this when he received the party Certificate of return at PDP National Secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday.

    He said he was privileged to be the first gubernatorial candidate to be issued certificate of return, saying “this means that we have won the July 14 election.”

    The governorship candidate said the people of the state would resist all forms of violence and money politics during the election in the state.

    “I want to assure our national leaders that, Ekiti state is for PDP. All the other parties are just shouting. Let them bring money, let them bring violence, Ekiti people will resist them.

    “We are no more interested in accommodating unnecessary interlopers. People want to take us through another round of economic slavery. We are no more ready for that.

    “I am ready and prepared to take up this challenge as the incoming governor of Ekiti state on the platform of the PDP.

    “There is a big difference between PDP and the other parties. We are a party that has totally eliminated imposition and impunity, ’’he said.

    Olusola commended the peaceful primaries on Monday in Ado-Ekiti and described PDP as a party with integrity, fairness, and transparency.

    He commended Gov. Ayodele Fayose for his support, describing him as a fearless leader who stood on the side of the truth.

    The governorship candidate also expressed his readiness to work with the party stakeholders and leaders, including the former national spokesman of the party, Prince Dayo Adeyeye.

    The PDP National Organising Secretary, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd), who presented the certificate of return to Olusola, described the primary as the most transparent in the party in recent history.

    He said that PDP National Working Committee, led by Prince Uche Secondus, had shown impunity and imposition of candidates red card.

    Akobundu urged the two aspirants in the primary and other stakeholders to work together for the success of the party.

    The Deputy National Chairman (South) of the party, Yemi Akinwonmi, said PDP had shown, through the outcome of its governorship primary in Ekiti, that it was the only democratic party in the country. (NAN)

  • Aspirants want Ekiti APC primary election shifted to Sunday

    The aborted Governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirants and members of the National Working Committee of the party.

    One of the aspirant who volunteered information to newsmen at the end of the meeting, Barrister Ajayi Olowo said  the aspirants appealed to the National Working Committee to shift the date to Sunday in view of the fact that they needed time to get back to the their constituency.

    Olowo also said that the leadership of the party has assured them that a few members of the panel will be changed in accordance with their request, pointing out that with such an assurance, they have no reason not to have confidence in the committee to conduct the primary.

    He also dismissed the possibility of having a consensus candidate for the primary saying “there is no consensus. We are all going for election”.

    Majority of the 33 aspirants contesting the primary were present at the meeting with the National Working Committee, but Minister of Solid Mineral Kayode Fayemi was visibly absent.

    Read also: Ekiti APC: Party elders propose direct primary

     Some of those who attended the meeting which was presided over by the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun include National Vice Chairman, south West, Pius Akinyelure, National Vice Chairman, South East, Emma Enukwu and other members of the NWC.

    Some of the aspirants present include Babafemi Ojudu, Segun Oni, Opeyemi Bamidele, Senator Gbenga Aluko, Hon. Femi Bamisile, Dr.Wole Oluyede, Hon. Bamidele Faparusi, Hon. Bimbo Daramola, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, Senator Ayo Arise, Dr. Wole Oluleye and Dr. Adebayo Orire.
    Others are Mr. Kola Alabi, Mr. Kayode Ojo, Mr. Muyiwa Olumilua, Mr. Victor Kolade, Mr. Debo Ajayi, Chief Dele Okeya, Chief Diran Adesua, Chief Sesan Fatoba, Dr. (Mrs.) Mojisola Yaya-Kolade, Mr. Olumuyiwa Coker and Deacon Adekunle Esan.

    But National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi said even though the aspirants made the request, it is not likely that the party will oblige them the request since it has till Tuesday, May 15 to submit a list of candidate to INEC.

  • Fayemi congratulates Olusola

    …denies walking out of S/West leaders’ meeting

     

    All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has congratulated Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof Olusola Eleka, for his emergence as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s flag bearer for the July 14, governorship election in the state.

    Prof Olusola on Tuesday emerged winner of the PDP governorship primary held in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    Dr Fayemi, Minister of Mines and Steel Development and a former governor of the state, said the emergence of Prof Olusola in an orderly and peaceful primary, is a welcome development.

    He however said the APC would give the PDP flag bearer a good fight for the Oke Ayoba Government House come July 14th, adding, however, that the APC still remains the preferred choice for the generality of Ekiti people.

    The Minister, according to a statement by his Media Office, said he is confident that whoever emerges as APC flag bearer in the party’s rescheduled primary on Friday, would be more acceptable to the Ekiti electorate.

    Meanwhile, Fayemi, has denied media reports that he stormed out of a meeting of the party’s South West leaders with Ekiti State
    governorship aspirants in Abuja on Tuesday.

    The Minister said contrary to misleading media reports and social
    media posts purporting that he walked out of the meeting, he only left the venue, like other attendees, at the end of the meeting.

    The Minister in the statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Yinka Oyebode, said there was no basis for him to storm out of the meeting which was called by the leaders to proffer way forward for the party, in the face of the rescheduled Ekiti governorship primary.

    The Minister, however said he could not make the second part of the meeting when it reconvened later in the evening, having earlier taken permission from the leaders to attend another meeting.

    “It is thus worrisome and highly embarrassing reading reports of purported ‘walk out’ on our leaders when nothing like that actually took place.

    “We implore well-meaning members of the society and members of our great party to disregard the misleading reports, “the statement added.

  • Ekiti PDP primary: Counting in progress

    Counting is presently in progress at the Ekiti State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary election.
    The counting is being done by the chairman of the Electoral Panel, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State.
    Sorting of ballot papers ended at 7.00 pm while counting commenced at 7.15 pm.
    Tension has gripped the Great Eagle Event Centre whee the primary is holding.
    The two contestants are Deputy Governor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola and former Minister of State for Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye.
    Total number of delegates accredited to vote was 1,968 and all of them voted.
    Total number of void votes recorded was seven.
    Expect more updates as events unfold.

  • APC cancels Ekiti guber primaries, replaces committee scribe

    The national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday bowed to the aspiration of majority of the aspirants in aborted Ekiti governorship primary election by cancelling the aborted exercise and ordering that the exercise be conducted afresh.
    The party however insisted that the Governor Tanko AlMakura led committee will still be responsible for conducting the primary while the Secretary of the committee will be replaced as a result of complaints by some aspirants that he is was close to one of then aspirants.
    National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi told a news conference in Abuja that a fresh primary will now be conducted on Friday,May 11, adding that all those identified as being responsible for disrupting the process on Saturday have been barred from further participating in the primary election in whatever capacity.
    “Perhaps, more importantly is that the exercise of Saturday is cancelled and would now be conducted this Friday, 11th May, 2018″, said Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s spokesman. The existing primary election committee is maintained, except the secretary who will now be substituted”.
    While saying that the committee Secretary was not indicted for being compromised, he said virtually all the aspirants complained that he was too close to one of the aspirants.
    He said: “We don’t have any evidence that he has compromised in any way. But what we found is that almost all the aspirants complained that he has close relationship with one of the aspirants in a way that could compromise his ability to be objective and fair to all concern. 
    “It is to that extent that we believe that to be on the safer side and to protect the integrity of the process, we should probably excuse him and bring in someone else. But there is no allegation that he has compromised in anyway.”
    Sspeaking on allegations of an aspirant bribing the delegates and why no aspirant was sanctioned, Abdullahi said “we can only act based on what the committee is able to report to us. When we received the report and sat down to deliberate on it, I can reliably inform you that there was no such allegation contained in the report. Anything they did not included in the report as people entrusted with the assignment, we cannot discuss it. As far as we are concerned, we will treat it as rumour.”
    On the issue of the culpability of the aspirants, he said even thoigh  there are aspirants linked to the individual agents that disrupted the process, “the principle of fair hearing require that you are able to make this allegations formally to these individuals and give them the opportunity to defend themselves or explain as the case may be before you take whatever action against them.
    “If we proceed this time to handing any summary discipline on them without giving them the opportunity to explain, that will not be justice and they will have the right to appeal such decision.”
    Mallam Abdullahi said the committee secretary was never indicted  for compromising the process but that ” virtually all aspirants complained that the secretary has a close relationship with one of their colleagues and so we decided to drop him in order to guard the integrity of the process and not because he was found to have compromised”.
    According to him, the party has decided that “all Identified unruly agents that participated in the suspended primary election of 5th May 2018 are disqualified from participating in the rescheduled primary as agents. Accordingly, the following individuals are hereby disqualified from participating as agents or partaking in the rescheduled primary in whatever capacity; Ayodeji Omowaye, Rotimi Faleye, Kayode Afolabi, Oladele Ademola Samuel, Oyetunde Ojo, Akintade Olayisade and Temitope Adewumi.
    “All agent tags must bear the name of aspirants they represent. All agents in the rescheduled primary election are hereby barred from coming to the voting arena with their mobile phones.
    “Security agents from other states will be mobilized to secure the venue and officials in the rescheduled election. One person would be appointed subject to the consensus of all aspirants to assist persons with disability and illiterate voters. All aspirants must not leave their sitting position unless with the approval of the primary committee 
    “The NWC condemn the disruptlon of the Primary of 5th May and resolved that all found culpable, directly or indirectly will be punished in accordance with the relevant provisions of the party constitution”.

  • Voting ends at Ekiti PDP primary

    …Sorting of Ballot begins

     

    Voting has ended in the Ekiti State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary holding at Great Eagle Event Centre, Ado-Ekiti

    The exercise which commenced at 2.15 pm ended at 5.05 pm without any hitch.

    All delegates in the primary had voted and sorting of the votes had just commenced.

    The Electoral Committee Chairman, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State was fully in charge.

     

    Details later.

  • Ekiti APC guber primaries : Disagreements resolved, election to hold soon

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) said on Sunday that the disruption of the Ekiti governorship primary by political thugs was regrettable and gave assurance that the process will resume as soon as possible.

    The party also asked all those aggrieved as a result of the Saturday’s ward congresses to approach the appeals committee  set up by the party for that purpose and seek redress.

    In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, the party expressed satisfaction with the general conduct of the ward congresses which it described as successful.

    It said the chairman of the Ekiti Governorship Election Primary committee and governor of Nasarawa state, Tanko Al-Makura has held a meeting with all the aspirants in Ekiti and resolved the issues that led on contention, assuring that the resolution was that the process be resumed immediately.

    Although he did not give any definite date for the resumption of the process, The Nation’s findings revealed that all political parties have until May 14, 2018 to conduct their party primaries, while they are to submit for. CF001 and CF002 to INEC by May 15, 2018.

    The statement said: “the situation in Ekiti is regrettable. The issues has been resolved and if is hope that the exercise canon co he where it stopped. The primary Chairman spoken to the national chairman after consulting with the aspirants. The position is that the process should resume as quickly as possible. The issue of indefinite postponement does not arise.”

    On the conduct of the ward congresses, the statement said “the All Progressives Congress (APC) wishes to congratulate all its members for the generally peaceful conduct of the Party’s ward congresses which took place across the country over the weekend.   

    “The Party especially commends members who served in the congress committees for their dedication and impartiality. We however acknowledge there are some issues arising from the conduct of the elections in some states.

    “With this in view, the Party had set up various appeal committees which will begin sitting from Monday, May 7, 2018.

    “We therefore call on all Party members to remain law abiding and where there are issues, they should seek redress through the appeal committees in their respective states.”

    The congress which held several parts of the country as scheduled on Saturday was either postponed in some places or marred by complain in a few other places, while a chairmanship aspirant was reportedly killed in Delta state.

  • Ekiti APC guber primaries postponed

    The Governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC)  in Ekiti State has been postponed indefinitely.

    The postponement is due to violence.

    The voting process turned rowdy as supporters of some aspirants attempted to disrupt the process.
    Voting was already in progress when the supporters who were not happy with the trend of voting surged forward and attempted to stop delegates from further casting their ballots.
    Delegates from six out of sixteen local governments had voted before the process was halted by the protesters.
    The process had been peaceful before the protest broke out.
    The aggrieved delegates surged forward and overturned the tables where ballot boxes were placed but security men on duty rescued the ballot boxes.
    They alleged that the process was skewed in favour of the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.
    The protesters were chanting anti-Fayemi songs.
    The security men on ground had formed a ring around the voting centre and the state box where the aspirants were sitting.
    The chairman of the electoral committee and Nasarawa State Governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, headed for the state box to allow tempers cool down.

  • Ekiti APC guber primary turns violent as protesters halt voting

    The voting exercise in the  governorship primary  of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Ekiti was disrupted on Saturday  by some protesters at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado-Ekiti,  venue of the exercise.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports  that the protesters had alleged that attempts were being made by some party officials   to compromise the process.

    The protest, which turned violent, led  to  party officials, aspirants and their followers as well as journalists  to run for safety as gunshots were heard in and around the stadium.

    One of the protesters and  Director General of  the Babafemi Ojudu Campaign Organisation, Chief Ranti Adebisi, alleged that  the election was being compromised.

    It was  not immediately clear if the primary election would  still go on as security agents were sighted trying to restore order at the stadium.

    Gov.  Tanko Almakura of Nasarawa, who is leading the team  conducting the  primary election, had earlier told NAN  that the initial downpour would not  stop the exercise.

    He had stressed  the readiness of his team to provide a level playing ground for all the 33 aspirants participating in the primary.

    Almakura, however,  enjoined the aspirants  to maintain decorum throughout the period, saying nothing was too much to sacrifice in the interest of the party.

    Opeyemi Bamidele, a former federal lawmaker and aspirant, also  told NAN that he was satisfied with the tight security arrangement put in place for the primary.

    He also pledged his readiness to abide by the outcome of the exercise.

    As at  the time of filing this report, voting which started at about  4:30 pm,  has  been suspended till further notice.(NAN)

  • Ekiti APC Primary: ‘I have no anointed candidate – Tinubu

    As  aspirants slugged it out for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket in the party’s primary election in Ekiti on Saturday, APC National Leader, Sen. Bola Tinubu said in Lagos that he had no anointed candidate.

    Tinubu spoke with newsmen in Ikeja as the APC held its ward congresses in Lagos.

    The winner of Saturday’s primary election will fly the party’s flag in the July 14 Ekiti governorship election, in which the APC is seeking to oust the Peoples Democratic Party in the state.

    ”I believe those in charge of the primary in Ekiti will do the right thing. I have put my own political gear in neutral.

    ”I have no anointed candidate. Everyone there aspiring and contesting are very dear members and they deserve the right to participate.

    ”About 33 of them in all, and we only need one seat for governorship. We have had leadership discussions. I like the fact that they showed up respectfully and committed to the peace and stability of the party in that State,” Tinubu told newsmen.

    He said that feelers from Ekiti showed that things had been going on smoothly.

    “We have responsible leadership around there.

    ”Sincerely, I had wanted to be in Ekiti but when you have this situation where Congress is holding the same time their primary is holding, charity begins at home; I must stay in Lagos to ensure that I help them.

    ” There are capable leaders over there that will see to the smooth exercise of the primaries in Ekiti, ” Tinubu said.

    Speaking on the ward congresses in Lagos, Tinubu urged party members to conduct themselves peacefully to help the country grow and progress democratically.

    He also urged them report any complaint at the party headquarters, rather than take laws into their hands.

    ”Until the various officials conducting the congresses write their reports, my own decision is to continue to appeal to the party to conduct themselves peacefully and comply with the rule of law.

    ”If they have any complaints, they should write to the party headquarters and just don’t take laws into their hands.

    ”I am proud of what is happening. I am very proud of the leadership. The leaders are for everybody; no biases, and they should move on peacefully and help the country to grow and progress democratically,” he said.

    Tinubu said he was impressed with the turnout of members at the ward congresses

    “I am very happy and proud of our party, All Progressives Congress, the APC. We are demonstrating to the people across the country that we are a law abiding political party.

    ”We believe in the tenets of democracy and that we demonstrate the openness in the congresses across the country, particularly.

    ”I can speak emphatically about Lagos that things are going according to plan, very open and transparent. People queued up behind whoever they want, no pre-ordained candidate. The turn-out is very impressive.

    ”The membership of the party is growing in leaps and bounds and open to all democrats who want to be identified with us.

    ”This is one of the best ways to energise the party that is almost remaining dormant at grassroots level and you could see the sense of belonging and the activities of ordinary people. It is a great joy for me,” he said.

    Meanwhile, speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Chief Henry Ajomale, the Chairman of APC-Lagos, expressed satisfaction over the ongoing exercise.

    He urged the incoming Chairman to ensure adequate welfare for members and amicable conflict resolution in the party.

    Also, The Chairman of Ayobo /Ipaja Local Development Council Area (LCDA),Mr Shakiru Yusuf, commended APC members for the peaceful conduct of the ward congresses in the area.

    Yusuf spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the end of end of congresses in Ward C and D in the area

    He said the way party members conducted themselves ensured that the exercise was free of rancour in all the five wards in the area.

    Yusuf expressed satisfaction with the exercise, saying the peaceful conduct was proof that party members were united.

    ‘We are happy with the way the congresses went across the five wards in the area.

    “No case of violence, no case of misconduct everything went on peacefully.

    “I thank our party members for the way they have conducted themselves which ensured that we had peaceful congresses.

    “This is what democracy should be about at the grassroots, I am happy that Ayobo /Ipaja has delivered “,he said.

    Yusuf said ward executive members were elected in all the wards without protests or oppositions.

    He also the thanked the ward Congress committee for a job well done, saying the transparent manner in which they coordinated the congresses was commendable.

    He expressed the optimism that justice the way the congresses in the area were successful the local government congress scheduled for May 12 would also be a success.

    Also speaking, the Councilor for Ward D in the area, Mr Olusola Dada thanked party members for choosing leaders at the ward without rancour.

    He said members had demonstrated that do-or-die politics was an aberration with the successful conduct of the congresses.

    Dada said he was satisfied with the conduct at ward D and expressed the hope that the success would be replicated at the council congress.

    “I am more than elated at tbe peaceful conduct in this ward. It shows there is no division and everybody is working together for the success of the area.

    “We are happy. We can only say things will be the same at the council congress”,he said.

    However, the ward election in some centres under Kosofe LGA in Lagos had some hitches due to disagreements between two groups of APC members.

    At a centre located at No 18, Emmanuel High Street, Ojota, some members refused to allow the exercise to go on, saying their group’s list was not reflected in the one with officials at the centre.

    NAN reports that when the atmosphere was becoming tense, the police and DSS had to escort the electoral officers and their voting materials to Kosofe council secretariat along Ogudu Road.

    One of the party members from Ward F, Ojota, Engr. Kunle Afareogun told NAN that they resisted an attempt to impose one group on the people, contrary to the directive of the APC leadership.

    When NAN visited Kosofe council, the gate was manned by some men who refused to allow anyone to enter, including journalists.

    NAN reports that similar incident happened at Ogudu Primary school, Ogudu Road, where the DPO Ogudu, Mr Gbenga Olorunfemi, evacuated the electoral officials and materials and brought them in his patrol van to the council secretariat amidst heavily armed policemen.

    NAN observed that men of the Federal Special Anti-robbery Squad from Ikeja were also at hand to check any violence.(NAN)