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Tag: Prof. Kolapo Olusola Eleka

  • Fayemi to Eleka: You are free to challenge my victory in Supreme Court

    Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State on Friday declared that he never regarded the  defeated governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic party, Prof. Kolapo Olusola-Eleka as an enemy.

    Rather, he said the major opposition party was free to challenge his victory at any stage of the court, and make useful suggestions for smooth running of his government.

    Fayemi, however, said  Eleka and the  PDP were free to challenge his victory at the Supreme Court, in spite of his readiness to entertain contributions from the main opposition party.

    The governor spoke in Ado Ekiti on Friday at a programme tagged “Meet Your Governor”.

    Fayemi stated that he had never perceived Eleka as an arch enemy in spite of  the petition he filed against his victory in the July 14, 2018 poll.

    “I have never seen Prof Olusola Eleka as an enemy, but I have been seeing him as a co- contestant, so we won’t shy from approaching him to seek his advice on any issue we feel he could be of help for smooth running of our government.

    ” But this should not be misinterpreted to mean that we are trying to prevent him from seeking justice up to the supreme court; he is free to challenge us.

    “The Appeal Court, on Thursday delivered its judgment, declaring that  PDP has no evidence of rigging  against us, so we are not afraid of being challenged.”

    On the just concluded presidential, National and state assembly elections, which APC won wholesomely in the state, Fayemi denied the allegation that federal might and money were deployed to muzzle the opposition in the polls

    ” If you look at the outcome of the results, there was no local government where opposition did not score at least 30 percent in all the 16 local government areas
    “So, the conduct had been adjudged free, fair and the outcome was credible going by what INEC said,” he said.

    The governor added that his government would promote technical education to counter the rising unemployment in the state.

    READ ALSO: Updated: Appeal Court affirms Gov. Kayode Fayemi’s election

    “We feel that skill acquisition is good in view of what we are experiencing in the labour market.

    “We must be able to convert our love in education to wealth and that is what we are out to do.”

    We are also creating knowledge zone to make Ekiti a destination when it comes to knowledge and skills. About 117kms of roads will be constructed to link all the towns within that zone together.

    “They call it knowledge Park in advanced nations and we are studying how we can pattern our own model after any of the countries that are already practising the policy.”

    Fayemi added that he was committed to the re-establishment of the abolished Local Council Development Areas, the policy he initiated during his first term.

    He said the government would soon conduct council elections in the state to bring development to the grassroots.

  • Fayemi to Eleka: You are free to challenge my victory in S/Court

    Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi on Friday declared that he never regarded the defeated governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic party, Prof. Kolapo Olusola-Eleka as an enemy.

    Rather, he said the major opposition party was free to challenge his victory at any stage of the court, and make useful suggestions for smooth running of his government.

    Fayemi, however, said  Eleka and the  PDP were free to challenge his victory at the Supreme Court, in spite of his readiness to entertain contributions from the main opposition party.t

    The governor spoke in Ado Ekiti on Friday at a programme tagged “Meet Your Governor”.

    Fayemi stated that he had never perceived Eleka as an arch enemy in spite of the petition he filed against his victory in the July 14, 2018 poll.

    “I have never seen Prof Olusola Eleka as an enemy, but I have been seeing him as a co-contestant, so we won’t shy from approaching him to seek his advice on any issue we feel he could be of help for smooth running of our government.

    Read also: Jubilation in Ekiti over Fayemi’s Appeal Court victory

    ” But this should not be misinterpreted to mean that we are trying to prevent him from seeking justice up to the supreme court; he is free to challenge us.

    “The Appeal Court, on Thursday delivered its judgment, declaring that  PDP has no evidence of rigging  against us, so we are not afraid of being challenged.”

    On the just concluded presidential, National and state assembly elections, which APC won wholesomely in the state, Fayemi denied the allegation that federal might and money were deployed to muzzle the opposition in the polls

    ” If you look at the outcome of the results, there was no local government where opposition did not score at least 30 percent in all the 16 local government areas

    “So, the conduct had been adjudged free, fair and the outcome was credible going by what INEC said,” he said.

    The governor added that his government would promote technical education to counter the rising unemployment in the state.

    ” We feel that skill acquisition is good in view of what we are experiencing in the labour market

    ” We must be able to convert our love in education to wealth and that is what we are out to do.

    ” We are also creating knowledge zone to make Ekiti a destination when it comes to knowledge and skills. About 117kms of roads will be constructed to link all the towns within that zone together.

    “They call it knowledge Park in advanced nations and we are studying how we can pattern our own model after any of the countries that are already practising the policy.”

    Fayemi added that he was committed to the re-establishment of the abolished Local Council Development Areas, the policy he initiated during his first term.

    He said the government would soon conduct council elections in the state to bring development to the grassroots.(NAN)

  • Group advises Fayemi on court case

    a pressure group in Ekiti State, Adeola Roy Ambassadors, has advised the Governor-elect, Dr Kayode Fayemi, to get a good legal team to defend the suit challenging his electoral victory.

    The group said there was a need for him to get good and outstanding constitutional lawyers who would not disappoint him in the matter, especially as he has a good case.

    Fayemi, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate polled 197,459 votes during the July 14 election to beat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Prof Kolapo Olusola Eleka, who scored 178,121 votes.

    Dissatisfied, Eleka filed a petition at the election petition tribunal in Ado Ekiti on August 3, challenging the result.

    The group’s leader Mrs Adeola Roy said in a statement that she was sure Fayemi would win the case.

    Congratulating the governor-elect, she described Fayemi’s victory as well-deserved, noting that his campaigns showed that he really worked for the victory at the poll.

    She said she followed the APC campaigns and could report that he performed creditably better than other contestants in the election.

    Mrs Roy wondered why anyone would accuse the APC flagbearer at the election of fraud when the others did not work as hard as Fayemi.

    She urged him not to worry, saying the PDP gubernatorial candidate would be defeated in court and urged other APC members and indeed lovers of fairness and justice in the state to rally around the governor-elect.

    Mrs Roy said Fayemi should not allow the case to distract him from planning for the programmes that he would execute, adding that this could be one of the reasons his opponent went to court.

    She added: “Since we have reclaimed our land, I am hopeful that sooner than later, our values will be restored. We wish Fayemi a peaceful tenure.’’

  • Prosecute Fayose for electoral offences, lawyer tells INEC

    A Lagos based lawyer, Mr. Kabir Akingbolu, has petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prosecute Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose and his Deputy, Prof Kolapo Olusola Eleka, for alleged electoral offences.

    Akingbolu alleged that Fayose and Eleka, alongside the Acting Chairman of the Ekiti State Broadcasting Corporation, Mr. Lere Olayinka, committed at least 10 electoral offences during the June 14 governorship election in Ekiti State.

    Read Also:Fayose’s deputy files 700-page petition against Fayemi

    He made the claims in an August 6 letter to INEC chairman Prof Mahmood Yakubu.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dr Kayode Fayemi, polled 197,459 votes in the election to beat Eleka of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 178,121 votes.

    The lawyer urged INEC to prosecute the trio in line with Section 150 of the Electoral Act, 2010 as this “will go a long way to curb official impunity during elections.”

    Akingbolu noted that because Fayose and Eleka had constitutional immunity from prosecution until their tenure expires in October, investigation of the “serious electoral offences” ought to commence without delay.

    He threatened to apply to the Federal High Court for an order of Mandamus to compel INEC to carry out its “statutory duty forthwith”, if it “fails or refuses to commence the investigation of the serious electoral offences disclosed in the petition before August 15.

    Akingbolu said: “Throughout the campaign the trio campaigned against Dr. Kayode Fayemi and urged voters not to vote for him in contravention of Section 129(c) of the Electoral Act.

    “The campaign of the trio was tainted with abusive language, which injured religious, ethnic and sectional feelings contrary to Section 95(1) of the Electoral Act.

    “The trio threatened to make use of force and violence in contravention of Section 131(a) of the Electoral Act.”

    According to him, the trio prevented all government aspirants apart from Prof Eleka the free use of the Ekiti State Radio and Television station in contravention of Section 131(d) of the Electoral Act.

    In another instance, he claimed that Fayose paid the sum of N3, 000 to every civil servant on Friday June 13; with intent that such money shall be expended on bribing voters to vote for Prof Eleka.

    Akingbolu added: “The Governor campaigned for Professor Kolapo Eleka in the Governor’s lodge on June 14, 2018 within 24 hours prior to the polling day in contravention of Section 99 (1) of the Electoral Act, 2010.

    “They prevented the Ekiti State Broadcasting Corporation from allotting equal coverage and conspicuity to all political parties in contravention of Section 100 (5) of the Electoral Act 2010.

    “In the morning of June 14, 2018 they assembled a crowd at the Ekiti State Governor’s Lodge where they prayed and persuaded voters to vote for Professor Kolapo Eleka

    “They caused the Ekiti State Broadcasting Corporation to broadcast news which opposed the candidature of Dr. Kayode Fayemi in contravention of Section 101(1) of the Electoral Act, 2010.

    “Before the official declaration of the results of the governorship election by the Returning Officer they announced an election result which they knew to be false and thereby declared Professor Kolapo Eleka as the Governor Elect of Ekiti State on June 15, 2018 in contravention of Section 123(4) of the Electoral Act.”

     

  • Voting ends in Eleka’s unit

    Voting ended in Unit 007, Ward 2, Okekuru, Ikere-Ekiti at 4pm.

    It’s the unit where the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Prof Kolapo Olusola Eleka voted.

    His unit had one of the longest queues in Ikere-Ekiti, with 1,103 registered voters.

    Read Also:Ekiti election a national embarrassment – Fayose

    Voting was delayed earlier as Eleka waited for two hours to hours to be verified.

    Sorting of ballot papers has begun, with result to be announced soon.

    Eleka has already won in most of the units in Ikere-Ekiti.

  • My victory is divinely ordained – Eleka

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Prof. Kolapo Olusola Eleka, said on Saturday he was sure of victory because it was divinely ordained.

    Asked for his prediction after casting his vote, he said: “I am a man who lives by faith. Right from the beginning I’ve always known that it’s a journey that is ordained by God.

    “And any journey that is ordained by God definitely will be a success. By His grace, God will see me through; I’m going to coast to victory.”

    There was a chorus of “amen” by his supporters and those who accompanied him to the polling booth.

     

  • I’m coasting to victory – PDP candidate

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ekiti, Prof. Kolapo Olusola Eleka, on Saturday expressed confidence that he would win the election.

    He cast his vote in Unit 007, Ward 2, Okekuru, Ikere-Ekiti at 11:10 a.m.

    The card reader twice failed to verify his Permanent Voter Card (PVC), but he was eventually allowed to vote after he was manually verified.

    Eleka said: “After I spoke with the INEC headquarters, they found a way out of it. So I’ve been able to cast my vote after being accredited.

    “I’m satisfied, and I want to appreciate INEC for being prompt. I also want to encourage them to find a way out in case it happens to any other person. It doesn’t have to be to the VIPs only.

    “Nevertheless I appreciate their prompt response to this incident.”

    Asked on his expectations, the PDP candidate added: “I’ve said it before, Kolapo Olusola is going to be declared governor-elect by the grace of God.”

    Eleka arrived at his unit at 9:10 a.m. But the card reader failed to verify his PVC. He stood and waited for several minutes without success.

    He stepped out and returned a second time, still the card reader failed to verify him.

    The PDP flagbearer said he was not given assurances that another card reader would be brought.

    He said his wife’s PVC was also not verified by the machine.

    He said: “I’ve just gone in to be accredited and then to cast my vote. But unfortunately after trying for several minutes, I was told that the card reader could not recognise my PVC. I don’t know why.

    “And I’m being told that I am the first person to experience such since they started. I registered in 2014, the same day with my wife. I used it in 2014 to vote.”

    On whether the experience affected his confidence in the electoral process, he added: “I can’t really explain what is happening at the moment.

    “I’m going to wait and find out whether it is only my card that will not be recognised by the card reader and that will be quite interesting.

    “As the gubernatorial candidate of PDP, I am expected to cast my vote, at least to vote for myself. But that does not mean that I have lost confidence in the process.

    “I still believe strongly that by the grace of God I will come out victorious, because I have the people with me.”