Ekiti 2022: How they stand — the strong five contenders in PDP primary election

About seven weeks to the 2022 governorship primary election of the  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, 17 persons have shown interest in becoming the candidate of the party in the June 18 governorship election in the state.

Despite being an opposition party in the state, pundits believe PDP stands a chance of winning the election if the party picks the “right candidate”.

The national body of the party had fixed January 28, 2022, for the Ekiti governorship primary.

Already, the national leadership of the PDP had commenced the process leading to the primaries with the completion of sales of nomination and expression of interest forms and recently conducted a screening for the 17 aspirants. Even though the report of the screening committee headed by the former Kaduna State governor, Ahmed Makarfi has not been made public but Newsflash Nigeria gathered that some aspirants mostly women were disqualified from participating in the primaries.

Newsflash Nigeria gathered that a list containing names and contact details of all the delegates that already concluded has been available to all the aspirants— this to allow them to reach out for canvassing.

Though the election of ward congresses to elect the three-man ad-hoc delegates will commence on Friday, January 7 to Saturday, January 8, 2022, while the local government congresses to elect one National Delegates as well as one person living with disability, which about 563 delegates to join the concluded ones in the party primary.

By calculations, about 2,000 delegates of the PDP would vote in the party’s governorship primary election.

The delegates are drawn from the 177 wards of the 16 local government areas of the state.

Newsflash Nigeria gathered that the statutory delegates comprised the past governors and Deputy Governors, present and past federal lawmakers, the past principal officers of State Assembly, former members of National Executive Committee, former State Working Committee members, serving and former Board of Trustee (BoT), former LG party chairmen, 2019 Federal and state lawmakers candidate and 2018 gubernatorial candidate and deputy.

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Also, elected party officers made up of current of all state executives, all LG executives, five principal officers per ward, three Adhoc delegates per ward, all zonal executives who are in the state, one physically challenged (PCM) per local government, one National delegate per local government.

DELEGATES

Statutory as of today = 174 (Decided)

State executives =39 (decided)

Local Government executives = 288; (252 decided, 36 yet decided)

Five principal officers per ward = 885; ( 775 decided, 110 yet decided)

Three Adhoc delegates per ward = 531 (yet decided)

One physically challenged (PCM) per LG = 16 (yet decided)

One National delegate per LG = 16 (yet decided)

Zonal executives from Ekiti State = 3 (decided)

As of today, Newsflash Nigeria gathered that the total number of delegates who would vote in the party’s governorship primary election is 1,951. Out of 1,951, the total number of the delegates decided is 1,242 while 563 were undecided until Friday, January 7 to Saturday, January 8, 2022, and January 15, 2022, to elect the three-man ad-hoc delegates, one National Delegates as well as one person living with disability from each local government area.

The remaining 146 delegates from two local government areas (22 wards) may likely not vote, because the congress of the 22 wards and two local government areas are still pending and there is no date for allocating the congresses.

Obviously, numerous factors would be on the table of the aspirants for their consideration when the delegates choose their choice on January 28, 2022.

Such factors as his/her financial muscle, his/her support base and his/her control the structure of the party.

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However, some factors, such as the political party itself and who the sponsors of an aspirant are, might subsume the preceding considerations.

By calculation gathered by Newsflash Nigeria, any aspirant who got above 700 delegates may likely click the ticket of the party.

Most of the aspirants have public chances, social media changes but does not have primary chances.

Some of the delegates from across the 16 local government areas, shared their thoughts on the popular candidates with Newsflash Nigeria.

KOLAPO OLUSOLA-ELEKA

This politician is a former deputy governor of the state. During the 2018 governorship election in Ekiti, he won the party primary eventually, lost to the APC in Ekiti election.

Over a year ago, Eleka made his intention known. He had met with a considerable number of socio-political groups in the state and many of his supporters are young people who see him as one from their generation.

“Eleka may have more votes as a governorship candidate, but he must work hard to win the 2022 PDP primary because the former boss, Ayodele Fayose backing another aspirant and may be difficult for him to win the ticket”, a party member from Ido-Osi local government area told Newsflash Nigeria.

Another party member from Ijero local government area described Eleka as a good candidate who, unfortunately, does not have the structure of the party.

“He did so well when he was in the Deputy governor. He is a politician who stands out among others, but his chances at the primary are slim.

Another party member from Ado-Ekiti local government area believes if Eleka loses in the primary, he would be rendered irrelevant politically.

Another party member from Ikere-Ekiti local government area said those who really matter in a primary election are standing behind Eleka.

“I won’t lie to you, Fayose delegates are standing behind Eleka. Although they act as if they belong to Fayose, but we know who the preferred candidate is.”

He added that the former deputy governor appears to be people’s favourite because of his seeming meekness and tolerance.

Eleka is from Ekiti South senatorial district.

SEGUN ONI

In 2010, Oni was almost completing his tenure as Ekiti governor when the court ruled that the 2007 election that ushered him in was, actually, won by Fayemi.

Oni, 67, who was made governor on the platform of the PDP, defected to the then newly-formed APC in 2014 where he later became the southwest deputy national chairman.

In 2018, he contested the APC governorship primary election but lose to Kayode Fayemi.

In 2020, Oni came back to the former party, PDP.

He did not immediately make his intention known, but the moment he backed the PDP, many believed his long term goal is to return as the governor of the state.

“Segun Oni, I think stands a better chance”, a party member from Moba local government area told Newsflash Nigeria.

“The popularity of a politician is measured by who your followers are. As regarding a primary election, the kinds of people who are your followers really matter. I can tell you that most of the party executives, who themselves are “delegates”, are supporting Oni.”

He explained that politicians who have held various positions are also behind Oni.

“Even those politicians, who worked with Fayose (Kayode Oso for example) when he was governor, are supporting Oni.

“Former PDP senators, house of representative members, state assembly members who also delegates are supporting Oni. At his declaration rally, all of these guys were there.

“In my local government area, only five aspirants I know have “delegates”, and most of the delegates are for Oni.”

Another party member from Ikole-Ekiti local government area said Oni has the financial resources but does not have the structure of the party.

“Well, Oni has the financial resources, but I doubt if he stands a better chance at the primary,” a delegate said.

Oni is from Ekiti north senatorial district.

OLABISI KOLAWOLE

Kolawole, immediate past state chairman of the party. He serves as the Commissioner for Environment during the second term of the administration of Ayo Fayose.

Kolawole resigned on September 23 from the State Chairman and handover to the Deputy Chairman of the party, Hon Lanre Omolase, popularly known as Molar, to act as acting state chairman of the party.

Kolawole was a former House of Assembly member from 2007 to 2011 and Commissioner for Environment between 2015 and 2018.

He was Director-General Campaign of Professor Kolapo Olusola Eleka during the 2018 governorship election.

Over the months, Kolawole did not plan to contest but, it wasn’t much of a surprise when the former governor of the state, Ayo Fayose had endorsed him in February 2021 to contest the 2022 governorship poll.

In May 2021, the former governor of the state, Ayodele Fayose, led Otunba Bisi Kolawole to the palace of Efon Alaaye, Oba Samuel Adeniran Asusumasa Atewogboye II and presented the Kolawole to the Monarch.

“Well, Kolawole has the financial resources and delegates because of the Fayose backing, he stands a better chance at the primary,” a delegate from Ijero local government area said.

Kolawole will pull a crowd at the primary,” another party member from the Ise-Orun local government area said.

Another party member from Ado-Ekiti local government area believes if Fayose allows Kolawole to lose in the primary, the former governor would be rendered irrelevant politically, hence, Fayose will put everything he has in use to ensure Kolawole wins.

Another member, however, told Newsflash Nigeria that if the PDP presents Kolawole, the party is going to be defeated by the APC.

“Kolawole is a distraction for the PDP”, a delegate from Emure local government area said.

Kolawole is from Ekiti Central senatorial district.

BIODUN OLUJIMI

Olujimi, a current senator representing Ekiti South Senatorial District in the National Assembly.

Olujimi, a former commissioner, former member of the House of Representatives, former Ekiti State Deputy Governor and now two-term senator in the National Assembly.

Since the PDP lose the governorship election in 2018 and Ayo Fayose ends their regime in the state, Olujimi started the battle with the leadership tussle between her and the former governor Ayo Fayose. The lawmaker claimed that being the only current senator under the PDP should be a leader of the party.

During the last year congress, Olujimi and Fayose had been locked in a legal battle over the conduct and outcome of March 2020, PDP congress held in the state.

The National Working Committee recognised the ward, local government and state executives controlled by former Governor Ayodele Fayose, from where Otunba Bisi Kolawole now aspirant had emerged as the State Chairman but the lawmaker had approached the court to seek redress.

Though the suit filed was dismissed by lower the Appeal Court; the Senator faction headed to the Supreme Court to challenge the ruling but the suit is now pending the Supreme Court. At the time of filing this report, no date was fixed for the hearing.

Olujimi contested for the governorship in 2018, but last minute, she supported the former Minister of Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye (now in APC) in order to defeat Fayose’s candidate then Olusola-Eleka but Adeyeye lose to Eleka in the primary.

“She would have been the most suitable aspirant, but the moment her group lose the leadership of the party to Fayose, her popularity dropped”, a delegate from Irepodun/Ifelodun local government area said.

“Please count Olujimi out of the race,” a party delegate from Ado-Ekiti local government area said.

“She has public chances but her chances at the primary are slim”, another delegate from Oye Local government area said.

Another member, however, told Newsflash Nigeria that if the Supreme Court declared Olujimi Executives valid before January 28 primary election, Olujimi has a better chance to win the primary.

“Olujimi stands a better chance at the primary if awaiting suit at  Supreme Court declared the Repositioning Group executive winner”, a Repositioning Group delegate from Emure local government area said.

Olujimi is from Ekiti South Senatorial District

WALE ARIBISALA

Aribisala, immediate past National Treasurer of the party and former member of the House of Representatives.

Aribisala was elected into the Federal House of Representatives between 2007 and 2011 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He was elected as National Treasurer at the PDP National Convention in December 2017 and the position end on December 7, 2021, a few days ago.

He is popular in his hometown and his local government area of the state.

Aribasala hails from Odo Ayedun Ekiti, the Ikole local government area.

“Aribisala is popular within the grassroots, but his chances at the primary are slim”, a delegate member from Oye Local Government area said.

“Aribisala, from all indications, may bow out — stepping down for Kolawole— before the conclusion of the primary because he is a Fayose boy,” a party member from Ado-Ekiti said.

“Aribisala has only delegates from Ikole Local Government out of 16 council areas and has not done his work very well to secure the governorship ticket”, a delegate member from Moba local government area said.

Aribisala is from Ekiti north senatorial district.

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