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Tag: Kayode Fayemi

  • Ekiti tribunal chooses Abuja as sitting venue

    …BEGINS WORK ON TUESDAY

     

    The Election Petition Tribunal hearing the dispute arising from the July 14 governorship election has shifted base to Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    The tribunal chaired by Justice Sulaiman Belgore had on Monday ordered the relocation of its sitting from Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, on Monday owing to insecurity at the Ekiti State High Court, the former venue.

    The action followed alleged violence by some party members at the inaugural sitting which put the lives of lawyers, litigants and court workers in jeopardy.

    People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, are challenging the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, before the three-man jury.

    Lawyers to all parties at the tribunal demanded the change of venue to Abuja but the panel in its ruling promised to communicate a new venue to them within 48 hours.

    Read Also: Ekiti: APC elders urge Oni to withdraw suit against Fayemi

    Counsel to Dr. Fayemi, Chief Rafiu Balogun and Ekiti PDP Legal Adviser, Mr. Sunday Olowolafe confirmed the change of venue in a telephone chat on Wednesday.

    The Nation reporter saw a copy of the hearing notice communicating the change of venue to Abuja on Wednesday which was signed by the Tribunal Secretary.

    Although the date on the hearing notice read September 24, a member of the Tribunal Secretariat who asked not to be quoted said pre-hearing will commence on Tuesday, September 25.

    It reads: “Take notice that the above-named petition is slated for pre-hearing and will be heard at High Court No 17, Apo FCT High Court, Abuja, before Shoprite Apo, FCT Abuja on Monday, the 24th day of September, 2018 at the hour of 9.00 am forenoon or soon thereafter on such other day as the Tribunal may determine.”

    Balogun had disclosed that the change of the date of commencement of pre-hearing might have been necessitated by the fact that it falls on the day of the opening of a new legal year and swearing-in of the new Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs).

  • Fayemi raises 37-member inauguration committee

    Ekiti State Governor-Elect, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has set up a 37-member Inauguration Committee, charged with the responsibility of organising a hitch-free ceremony to usher in the new administration on October 16.

    The Committee is to liaise with officials of the outgoing administration and relevant agencies and stakeholders for proper coordination and execution of a successful inauguration ceremony.

    A statement on Wednesday by the Special Adviser on Media to the Governor-Elect, Mr Yinka Oyebode, said members of the committee come with ample experiences from the public and private sectors.

    Members of the committee include Erelu Bisi Fayemi, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, Mrs Kemi Olaleye, Mr Akin Osho, Mr Yinka Oyebode, Mrs Funke Falodun, Mr Ayodeji Ajayi, Mr Tade Aluko, Mr Akin Rotimi, Mr Ayo Adegbite, Mr O’Seun Odewale, Mr Hakeem Jamiu and Mr Tolu Ibitola.

    Others Major Tajudeen Awe (rtd), Mrs Sola Salako-Ajulo, Mrs Bolaji Olagbaju, Dr Opeyemi Ogunsakin, Mr Kola Amire, Mr Kunle Dada, Mr Sanmi Omiata, Mr Tokunbo Adeparusi, Mr Oluremi Ajayi, Alhaja Mariam Ogunlade and Mr Jaiye Opayemi.

    The rest are Mr Gbenga Agbeyo, Chief Folorunsho Olabode, Hon Biodun Omoleye, Mr Shittu Olajide, Mr Biodun Fasakin, Princess Teju Okuyiga, Hon Oladapo Karounwi, Mrs Moni Afuye, Hon Adekunle Adeniyi, Brig-Gen Ebenezer Ogundana (rtd), Mr Gbenga Atiba, Mallam Akeem Bello and Mr Seyi Aiyeleso.

    Read Also: My father’s pedigree will work for me, says Idiagbon’s son

    The Terms of Reference for the committee members include: develop a framework for formal communications with relevant government agencies and stakeholders for a smooth inauguration ceremony; design and implement programmes for the inauguration ceremony; carry out a comprehensive assessment of facilities and venues for various events; ensure thorough supervision and excellent delivery of outlined events and activities leading to a successful ceremony.

    Other tasks include guest management, media coverage, crowd control, security and general entertainment.

  • Ekiti 2019: APC must not go near imposition, Osinkolu warns

    Dr Olusegun Osinkolu, is a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Ekiti State. In this interview in Ado Ekiti, he expressed confidence that the party has a good chance in the 2019 election but warned against imposition. Excerpts.
    Q: The 2019 general elections are around the corner. What is the chances of  your party in Ekiti State?
    The chances are very bright both at the State and national levels. President Muhammadu Buhari is doing well in virtually all the sectors, including those ones that were damaged during the 16 years of PDP misrule in Nigeria. The July 14 governorship election confirmed vividly that the APC is strong and command large followership in Ekiti. Before the election, Governor Ayodele Fayose’s boasts had convinced the public that it would be an uphill task for APC to win the election, but Dr Kayode Fayemi in spite of all odds and stumps erected on his way by the governor won the election. You could see the campaigns  of calumny against him going by the highly vindictive white paper released by government that indicted the governor elect; but all these did not stop Ekiti from believing in us. They have seen the APC and PDP ruling Ekiti and they could know who was the best. Our people have known the bad from the good and they made a wise choice by electing Dr Fayemi. So, I am confident that we have a good chance.
    President Buhari will be reelected through a resounding victory and the APC in Ekiti will win all the 26 State and nine National Assembly seats, because our records speak for us. Just go to the streets of Ado Ekiti and anywhere in Ekiti, people are already tired of the contraption called PDP. They are tired of one man tyranny of Governor Fayose and the last governorship election had ended that
    government of holocaust  in our dear state.
    Q: You are contesting for Senate in Ekiti North and your people said you are from the same Local Government with Dr. Fayemi. Can this pose a challenge to your ambition?
    Absolutely no. The victory of Dr Kayode Fayemi can’t stop my ambition, it would serve as a catalyst to my ambition rather than dimming it. The fact that I came from the same local government with Fayemi  shouldn’t serve as impediment to  my senatorial aspiration, so I want to urge those sharing such sentiment to bury  the thought.
    Dr Fayemi and my ambitions are two different things, so one can’t disturb the other. I am still pursuing my aspiration with vigour and I have a good prognosis to  get the party’s ticket and win the election based on my acceptability among the members of the party.
    The constitution of the APC doesn’t foreclose people’s aspiration based on territorial location for any elective position provided such aspirant is acceptable to his party and the electorate. Let me say this expressly that Dr  Fayemi’s victory in the last election will help in propelling my victory if given the party’s ticket. Our party members are ready to give me their nods to get the ticket, having laboured so hard to launder  the image of the party in the past. I was one of the few heroes that fought the party’s course during the long drawn legal battle culminating in Dr Fayemi’s first coming as a governor of this state. I contested for Senatorial seat twice in Ekiti North and lost narrowly to Senator Olubunmi Adetumbi in 2011 and 2015 respectively. In spite of the shortcomings in the primaries, I never betrayed the party by rocking the boat. I still committed my resources to ensure the party won in 2011 but lost in 2015 when Senator Adetumbi was represented as the candidate of our party.
    Putting it succinctly, I have always been a committed and unwavering party man. I believe in party supremacy and that accounted for why I have been spending personal resources to put the party together since the APC lost in 2014 in Ekiti North. I offered myself as the rallying point during the trying period. I gave them a sigh of hope that we have not lost everything after the 2014 catastrophic defeat we suffered before the light came after the tunnel with the enigmatic victory recorded by our leader, Dr Fayemi on July 14.The National Executive Committee of the party at a meeting presided  over by President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Chairman of the Party, Com. Adams Oshiomhole and other party’s top notches like Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Abuja said whoever will get the party’s ticket must emerge through Direct or indirect primary, not imposition. So, if I become the preference of the party members based on convictions about my unblemished past records , nothing can change that, because the sovereignty lies in the people when it comes to election. Instances abound, where top elected official and Senator came from the same constituency. In 2011, the late Deputy Governor, Mrs Funmilayo Adunni Olayinka and Senator Babafemi Ojudu, who represented Ekiti Central senatorial district were from Ado Ekiti Local Government., among other innumerable similar  political situations across the country. Whether I come from Dr. Fayemi’s local government or constituency can’t take preeminence over the 1999 constitution, APC guidelines and Constitution and the power of the people. This can only apply to appointive positions not elective.
    Q: Rumour was rife that the party leaders were rooting for consensus which may consider zoning. What is your take on this?
    As a loyal party man, I have  promised to support the candidate adopts by the party in Ekiti North if I lose the primary, but I never envisaged losing out because the people knew and appreciated the sacrifices I had made in the past before the party got to this present situation. The last NEC meeting of the party held in Abuja where our national leaders, including President Buhari, our national Chairman and governors were present was very explicit about how candidates should emerge. Going by what was agreed on, party can adopt direct, indirect and consensus options, but all must be democratic. People must be carried along and that there shouldn’t be room for imposition.
    The party had given clarification that consensus can only work where all aspirants going for a particular position agreed to step down for a person to avoid controversy or crisis and the moment there is no agreement, then primary remains the last resort and that I believe strongly that APC will do in Ekiti for all the vacant seats. I appeal to party leaders to conduct credible and acceptable primary in the September primaries for candidates with high acceptability among the electorate to get the tickets and record resounding victories for APC. I have no misgiving that our leaders at the federal and state levels will do what is just and right under this circumstance going by what happened during the scramble for governorship race. If you could remember, 33 aspirants collected nomination and expression of interest forms  and the party didn’t deny any of them the opportunity to test their popularity. They didn’t force anyone to step down with
    the exemption of Senator Babafemi Ojudu, who willingly stepped down from the race. If you look at the primary that produced Dr Fayemi, you would realize that it was free and fair and that was why nobody defected to the PDP out of all the bigwigs  that contested. So, I don’t expect  the party to impose anybody. All aspirants will be given unfettered opportunity to test their popularity within the
    party.
    Q: Your party may want to impose now that they are in power in Ekiti. Don’t you consider this as a possibility in APC?
    The aftermath of the June 21, 2014 loss suffered by the party had taught us a big lesson that there are gains in participatory democracy. Our party can’t afford to toe the same path the second time. Let me say this, we are good students of history; Ekiti people are very sophisticated, they also hate cheating, so the consequences of imposition may be dire for APC. I want to advise that they must not contemplate that for the fear of protest votes from Ekiti electorate.
    Don’t forget that electing a candidate in the coming elections goes beyond the purview of APC, it is going to be all Ekiti affairs, so we must be careful to prevent protest votes. In 2007, the PDP decided to impose the House of Assembly candidates and they paid dearly for it, that was what gave rise to 13-13 between the then PDP and AC in Ekiti Assembly which nearly crippled governance. I am of the humble opinion that our party must tread cautiously to be able to escape the banana peel, they must not  go near imposition, because it used to ruin the fortunes of a party rather than enhancing  it. Our party would have lost the governorship election if Dr Fayemi had been imposed and we thank God for not making that mistake.
    Q: What gives you the impression that you may likely be the preference of the party while contesting with a veteran like Senator Olubunmi Adetumbi and others?
    Well, I have a lot of respect for my brother, Senator Adetumbi, but the two of us have records in Ekiti North. Senator Adetumbi was in the Senate between 2011 and 2015 before losing reelection. He has a record of performance. Though, I have never had the opportunity to contest election before but I have a record as a party man in Ekiti North. So, our people will consider the records we have among them and do the justice to the two of us. Let me say without fear that I am not afraid of primary. In fact, I will be the last person to root for consensus, because I have confidence that I am acceptable to our people. Since we lost election in 2014, I have been going round the 56 wards in the district offering leadership and rendering helps to our people. Every December 13, I used to host the party members where I share Christmas gifts to them apart from emergency interventions I used to do for the party from the wards, local government  up to the State level. The State executive had openly acknowledged my contributions many times, so I have a good chance to clinch the ticket anytime provided the process is transparent.
    Q: The rumour of imposition is already generating silent crisis in your party. What do you have for your supporters as a leader?
    I want them to remain peaceful, loyal and cautious of what they will say, because most of these information out there might not be true. I don’t want them to be rude to our leaders, either by their actions or utterances. They must wait and see how this will play out. They must be patient with our leaders, because they too are reasonable and they know the consequences inherent in taking the electorate for granted.
    They have suffered backlash of protest votes in the past and I know they won’t allow it to happen again in our party. To me, I am confident that our leaders will do the right thing.

  • Ekiti Poll: Tribunal begins sitting, pledges to be fair

    The battle on the authentic winner of the July 14 governorship poll in Ekiti State commenced in the courtroom on Monday as the Election Petition Tribunal began its sitting.

    The three-member panel of judges led by the Chairman, Justice Suleiman Belgore, promises to be fair to parties involved in the petition.

    Other members of the panel are Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro and Justice Aliyu Baba Usman.

    The first petitioner is People’s Democratic Party (PDP) while its governorship candidate is the second petitioner.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is the first respondent, All Progressives Congress (APC) is the second respondent while the third respondent is the governor-elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

    In the inaugural speech, Justice Belgore stressed that the jury is aware of the 180-day time frame within which to deliver final verdict.

    He urged lawyers to parties to maintain decorum and not engage in the use of any “delay tactics” to slow down proceedings.

    Belgore said the pane would be guided by the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules and Practice Direction as issued by the President of the Court of Appeal.

    The judges commenced sitting at 10.12 am and rose at 10.32 am.

    The panel reconvenes at 11.30 am for pre-trial hearing.

  • Fayose to Fayemi : My handover note ready, will address your worries

    Exactly 35 days to his leaving office, outgoing Ekiti state governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose on Sunday says his handover note is ready for the scrutiny of people making enquiries about his government.

    The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that the governor did not cooperate with the Transition Committee set up by Incoming-Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

    Fayose snubbed the request by the committee, for certain records of his tenure.

    He claimed the committeee is illegal.

    Fayose, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, urged the Governor-Elect to stop spreading falsehood about him or the finances of his administration.

    He described as mere fabrication, the claim that his government had accumulated a debt of N117 billion as against the N18 billion it inherited.

    Fayemi was “already preparing excuses for his impending failure at the tribunal”, Fayose said.

    Fayose insisted that the State Government under him has no obligation to relate with any committee not empowered by law, stating that the governor-elect should wait for the handing over note that will be handed to him on October 16.

    He said it was funny that the same Transition Committee that claimed it did not get any information from the State government estimated the state debt at N117 billion.

    Read also: Suspected ritual killer arrested with corpse at Ekiti river

    He reiterated that his government only received N10 billion grant from the Excess Crude Account, which was released to all States for capital projects as well as Budget Support fund released to states by the Federal Government.

    “It is on record that Ekiti State Government was indebted to the tune of N86, 013,689,097 as at October 16, 2014 that Governor Fayose took over.

    “The debts are broken down as follows: Bank Loans; N15, 831,613,425.62, Bond; N26, 749,796,784.75, Outstanding Warrants; N15, 522,552,900.76, Outstanding to Road Contractors; N21, 286,126,749, Outstanding Remittances to FG; N709, 883,656.75, Outstanding Remittances (State Govt); N592, 995,374.89 and EKSG Public Servants Outstanding Emoluments; N5, 137,888,224.37,” he said.

    The governor counselled Fayemi to face the task of “defending the mandate that he stole and his fraudulent emergence as the APC candidate instead of treading the usual path of deceiving the public to cover up his failure”,

  • Oni vs Fayemi: Court sets hearing for Sept. 25

    Okays ex-gov’s amended processes

     

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed September 25 this year for hearing in the suit challenging the eligibility of Ekiti State Governor-elect, Kayode Fayemi for the last governorship election in the state.

    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba chose the date on Wednesday after granting an application by the plaintiff, Segun Oni, for an amendment to the originating processes.

    Earlier, Oni’s lawyer, Anthony Adeniyi told the court that his client has complied with the order for substituted service on the defendants.

    Fayemi’s lawyer, Rafiu Balogun said his client was just served with the court processes and needed time to respond.

    He agreed to file his client’s response before the next date.

    Oni, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/663/2018 claimed that Fayemi was not qualified to participate in the APC’s primary election held on May 12 this year on the grounds that he allegedly failed to resign his appointment as Minister Mines and Steel Development as required by law.

    According to him, Fayemi won the APC’s primary election on May 12 this year while he was still the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, a position he didn’t officially resign from until May 30.

    He queried Fayemi’s eligibility for the election on the strength of his (Fayemi) purported indictment by the Justice Oyewole Judicial Panel of Enquiry, set up by the state government to probe Fayemi’s first tenure in office.

    Oni, who came second in the primary election by scoring 481 votes behind Fayemi’s 941, wants the court to declare him the valid flag bearer of the APC in the election held on July 14 this year, which Fayemi won.

    Read Also: Fayemi will run all-inclusive govt, says lawmaker

    He also wants “A declaration that the claimant (Oni,) having scored 481 votes which is the majority of lawful and valid votes at the 2nd defendant’s (APC) 12th May, 2018 governorship primaries election for the purpose of determining the 2nd defendant’s candidate for the 14th July 2018 election for the office of Governor, Ekiti State is the person that was validly nominated by the 2nd defendant for the 14th July, 2018 election for the office of Governor, Ekiti State.”

    Oni wants the court to determine “whether by virtue of All Progressives’ Congress constitution and particularly Articles 2 and 5 of All Progressives’ Congress 2014 Guidelines for the nomination of candidates for public office as applicable to the APC Governorship primaries conducted on the 12th May, 2018, the 1st defendant, being a serving member of the Federal Executive and Federal Minister of Solid Minerals, Mines and Steel Development, having not resigned his appointment as a member of Federal Executive and Minister of Solid Mineral, Mines and Steel Development, at all or at least 30 days to the said primaries election of 12th May, 2018, was qualified to contest and participate in the said All Progressive Congress Governorship primaries of 12th May, 2018 as an aspirant in that election.”

    He is also praying the court to determine “Whether by virtue of All Progressive Congress Constitution and particularly Articles 2 and 5 of All Progressive Congress 2014 Guidelines for the nomination of candidates for public office as applicable to the APC Governorship primaries conducted on the 12th May, 2018, at Damilek Event Centre, Ado-Ekiti for the purpose of determining or nominating the 2nd defendant candidate for the 12th July Ekiti State Governorship election, the 1st defendant, having been indicted by Rtd. Hon. Justice Oyewole Judicial Panel of Enquiry, was qualified to contest and participate in the said All Progressives Congress Governorship primary of 12th May, 2018 as an aspirant in that election.”

  • Oni vs Fayemi: Court sets hearing for Sept 25

    *Okays ex-gov’s amended processes

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed September 25 this year for hearing in the suit challenging the eligibility of Ekiti State Governor-elect, Kayode Fayemi for the last govrnorship election in the state.
    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba chose the date on Wednesday after granting an application by the plaintiff, Segun Oni, for an amendment to the originating processes.

    Read Also: Fayemi: we’ve uncovered Fayose’s plan to sell govt property

    Earlier, Oni’s lawyer, Anthony Adeniyi told the court that his client has complied with the order for substituted service on the defendants.
    Fayemi’s lawyer, Rafiu Balogun said his client was just served with the court processes and needed time to respond.
    He agreed to file his client’s response before the next date.
    Details later.

  • ‘Fayose plans to sell Govt property few days to handover’

    FAYOSE: FAYEMI’S MEN WANT TO SCUTTLE MARKET ALLOCATION

     

    As the change of government beckons in Ekiti State, incoming governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and outgoing governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose have renewed hostilities with accusations from both sides.

    Fayemi said he has uncovered an alleged plan by Fayose to secretly sell off some government property through some shady deals.

    Fayose also accused Fayemi’s agents of making moves to block the allocation of new shops to traders at the new Erekesan Market.

    Fayemi in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media), Olayinka Oyebode, alleged that Fayose is planning to sell off the Erekesan Market, many parcels of government lands and other utilities.

    He warned that anybody transacting business with Fayose is doing so at his own risk as the incoming administration will not honour such transactions.

    Fayemi said: “The attention of the Governor-Elect of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has been drawn to the clandestine moves by the outgoing Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Peter Ayodele Fayose to hurriedly dispose off some valuable properties of Ekiti State Government through shady arrangements.

    “Some of the properties are:
    i. A large expanse of land between Ondo State Civil Service Commission and Elan Club, in front of Government Printing Press, Alagbaka, Akure.
    ii. Erinfun Livestock Development Center, covering 600 hectares of land along Federal Polytechnic Road, Ado-Ekiti.
    iii. The new Oja Oba Market, among others.

    “We hereby inform and advise the general public, particularly prospective buyers to be circumspect in entering into any transaction with the outgoing Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose in respect of any of the properties mentioned above or any other one whatsoever as the incoming administration may not recognize or give effect to such transactions.

    “A word is enough for the wise!”

    But Fayose in a statement by his Special Assistant (Public Communications and New Media), Lere Olayinka, alleged that agents of Fayemi are planning a court action to stop the allocation of shops to market men and women.

    He said: “Desperate APC goons led by Fayemi’s Deputy, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi have concluded plans to scuttle allocation of the over 700 lock up shops in the new Oja Oba market to beneficiaries who have already obtained forms.

    “They are set to go to court to stop allocation of the shops.

    “Meanwhile, these same APC people were against the Market Project when it started.

    “But now that the project is nearing completion, they want to allocate the shops to their cronnies not-minding owners of the shops that were demolished to pave way for the new market.

    “Ekiti people should remember how these same APC people shared the Irewolede Housing Estate, Ado Ekiti Duplexes built by the Segun Oni’s PDP govt.

    “This time around however, the people will prevail. The lock up shops will be allocated just the way the over 200 open shops were openly allocated a few weeks ago.”

  • Ekiti poll tribunal: Fayemi lines up eight SANS to defend mandate

    All is now set for legal fireworks at the Ekiti State Election Petition Tribunal following the filing of the defence of the governor-elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, at the registry on Wednesday.

    The governor-elect filed a 2,558-page reply to the petition filed by the defeated candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Prof. Kolapo Olusola.

    The incoming governor also brought to the Tribunal Registry 3,500 exhibits including plethora of documents gathered to defend his victory at the poll.

    Fayemi, who contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was declared winner of the July 14 governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The governor-elect has also assembled a crack team of lawyers including eight Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) twenty seven other lawyers to be led by Prince Lateef Fagbemi.

    Fagbemi, an election petition expert, was renowned for achieving victory in court for former Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi, when the Supreme Court ruled that he be sworn in without participating in the 2007 election.

    The apex court held that votes won by Amaechi, who is currently Minister of Transportation, was deemed to have been cast for his then party,  PDP, sacking Mr. Celestine Omeiha from office after spending five months in power.

    Others SANs in Fayemi’s legal team are former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Akinlolu Olujinmi; Dr. Kayode Olatoke, Mr. John Baiyeshea, Mr. Abiodun Owonikoko, Mr. Yomi Aliyu, Mr. Adesegun Ajibola and Mr. Hakeem Afolabi.

    Fayemi’s major prayer in his defence is that the Tribunal should dismiss the petition filed by Olusola for “lacking merit.”

    Read Also: Fayemi will run all-inclusive govt – Lawmaker

    Olusola had on August 3 filed a 700-page petition urging the Tribunal to declare him winner. He claimed that he scored the highest number of lawful votes.

    Speaking with reporters after filing the petition, Olatoke, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said Olusola’s petition was a “waste of time as it lacked substance” and was sure that the case would be dismissed by the tribunal.

    He explained further that Fayemi won fair and square in 12 out of the 16 local governments areas of  the state, while Olusola won in four.

    In his response to Olusola’s petition bordering on alleged over voting in some polling units, Olatoke dismissed this claim as frivolous and baseless.

    He said Olusola’s first ground in his petition is based on Fayose’s phantom indictment, which had been nullified and set aside by a competent court, Olatoke said.

    “The second ground of Olusola’s petition is alleged over voting, which is another false claim. In any case, the petition in  itself is self-defeating.

    “The  third ground is on deliberate voiding of votes as alleged by Olusola but in actual fact, majority of the voided ballots were votes meant for Fayemi, while the fourth ground is on vote buying which is baseless as it was, Olusola’s sponsor, Fayose that was guilty of this.

    “Fayemi won convincingly based on his popularity,” Olatoke said.

    No date has been fixed for hearing.

  • Fayemi will run all-inclusive govt – Lawmaker

    The Minority Leader of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Gboyega Aribisogan has assured the people of the state that Governor-elect Kayode Fayemi will run an all-inclusive government as from October 16.

    The APC lawmaker representing Ikole Constituency 1 gave the assurance at Ward 7 party secretariat in Ijesa Isu Ekiti in Ikole Local government while speaking during his official declaration for second term.

    Read Also:Fayose’s rushed recruitment in bad faith, says Fayemi

    According to him, the incoming administration Fayemi will be different from the “one man dictatorship of the PDP and its outgoing governor.”

    He said: “The incoming government will be different from what we have now. It is going to be a clear departure from the dictatorship of the PDP and its governor. Fayemi will run an all-inclusive government.

    “Every interest and groups shall be accommodated. No one will be left out.”

    Aribisogan said he’s seeking for re- election because he believes he will continue to give good representation to the people of Ikole Constituency 1 based on his experience.

    In his words “I’m coming out again to serve you better because I believe I have the experience. You know I did my best for you during the 14 months I spent before my tenure was cut short by Ayo Fayose’s illegal suspension. Despite all my travails, I still made useful contributions to the political process in the state. I joined the progressives in the struggle to reclaim our land from the predators who wanted continuity of poverty, hardship and sufferings in our land. I became a visible minority voice and an apostle of the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s quest for restoration of our values.

    “I have since remained a loyal party man, unrepentant and die-hard supporter of Dr Kayode Fayemi. I promise that if given the chance again I will not disappoint you. I will not let you down.”