As the governorship election is to hold today in Ekiti State, the battle for the ticket of the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has become tense as some of the aspirants reportedly step down.
Newsflash Nigeria gathered that about 1200 delegates of the party members will cast their vote to elect a candidate to represent the party in the June 18 governorship election in the state.
At the last count, 17 contenders have expressed interest in being the PDP’s candidate in the election which is just about five months away.
Despite being the state’s opposition party, political pundits believe the PDP has a good chance of winning the governorship election because of the high calibre of candidates competing to fly the flag of the party.
The aspirants angling for the PDP ticket include Bisi Kolawole from Efon Local Council Government Area, Segun Oni from Ido/Osi Local Government, Senator Biodun Olujimi from Ekiti East, Prof. Kolapo Olusola from Ikere, Mrs Olumide Olubunmi also from Ido/Osi, Kayode Adaramodu from Ekiti Southwest, Adewale Aribisala from Ikole and Yinka Akerele from Oye.
Others are Ogunsakin Ayodeji from Ado Local Government, Alhaji Lateef Ajijola also from Ado, Mrs Arogundade Olutoyin from Ekiti East, Princess Adekemi Adewunmi from Efon, Mrs Cecillia Ebiesuwa from Emure, Mrs Adewumi Adesoye from Ado, Mrs Titilayo Owolabi, Mrs Modupe Asaolu from Ekiti Southwest and Mrs Deborah Alo from Ido/Osi.
Only five of the 17 aspirants appear to have the necessary experience and competence for the race.
Newsflash Nigeria examines last night that some aspirants are stepping down for Bisi Kolawole and Segun Oni respectively.
Nigeria News: PDP Guber Primary: Soldiers arrest hoodlums coming from another state to Ekiti
From the look of things, Kolawole, fondly called ‘Bisi K’, is likely to click the ticket as some aspirants step down for him.
The Efon Alaaye – born politician was the chairman of the PDP in Ekiti State before he resigned to contest the June 18 governorship poll and backing by former governor of the state, Ayodele Fayose.
In the statistics gathered by Newsflash Nigeria, Kolawole will score at least 70 per cent in some local government areas such as Efon, Moba, Ido/Osi, Ilejemeje, Oye, Ise/Orun, Irepodun/Ifelodun and Ekiti East. The former chairman will score the least per cent in only one local government, Ikere with 20 per cent.
Last night, about three aspirants were a campaign for him, Mrs Olumide Olubunmi also from Ido/Osi, Ogunsakin Ayodeji from Ado Local Government and Mrs Arogundade Olutoyin from Ekiti East. Other aspirants likely to support Kolawole includes Kayode Adaramodu, Lateef Ajijola and Yinka Akerele.
Moreover, Segun Oni, the former governor of the state may also click the ticket if other aspirants support him.
Oni governed the state between 2007 and 2011 under the banner of the PDP. He emerged as the PDP candidate under contentious circumstances in 2007, as he came third in the primary, but was imposed on the party by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. He was removed after a long drawn legal battle by the Appeal Court in Ilorin, giving way for Governor Fayemi to mount the saddle.
Going by the Newsflash Nigeria perception, Senator Biodun Olujimi team called Repositioning Movement has endorsed the former governor on Wednesday morning before the election started.
The most popular group within the Ekiti State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has unanimously endorsed Engr. Adebayo Olusegun Oni is the group sole candidate in today’s Ekiti PDP gubernatorial primary election.
While declaring the support on behalf of the group at Segun Oni’s residence, Ifaki-Ekiti, Hon. Kehinde Odebunmi described Engr. Segun Oni as the only candidate that can give the party, PDP needed victory in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state.
According to him, “Chief Segun Oni has everything to defeat the ruling All Progressive Congress, therefore, I urge all automatic delegates from repositioning movement to cast their votes for Engr. Segun Oni so as to fly the flag of the party”.
Other aspirants may likely step down ambitions to Segun Oni include Senator Biodun Olujimi from Ekiti East, Princess Adekemi Adewunmi from Efon, Mrs Cecillia Ebiesuwa from Emure, Mrs Adewumi Adesoye from Ado, Mrs Titilayo Owolabi, Mrs Modupe Asaolu from Ekiti Southwest and Mrs Deborah Alo from Ido/Osi.
