Omotoso Okeya, a Journalist and Public Affairs Analyst has analysed the genesis of the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State.
Recall that the Ekiti State PDP had held the ward, local government and state congresses to elect the party officers in concurrence with the party constitution.
But, the group loyal to Senator Biodun Olujimi has formed a parallel exco. The action was not unconnected with their contentions from the start about the March 7 ward Congress of the party.
It is no longer news that two groups under the auspices of former Governor Ayo Fayose and Senator Biodun Olujimi actually displayed their political dexterity, struggled and rubbed shoulders during the ward congress as foundation for both the local government and state congresses. But, the Fayose’s eventually had the day to the dissatisfaction of the Olujimi group who complained of irregularities.
The NWC as the highest ruling body of the PDP which is constitutionally saddled with the power to conduct congresses and primaries of the party ratified the ward officers elected by Fayose group.
Efforts of the Olujimi’s to stop the swearing-in of the officers and nullify their election failed. Both the NWC and court of competent jurisdiction affirmed the ward officers elected by Fayose group as valid and authentic. Though, this decision is still being challenged at the appellate court.
Here, my projections may resemble the previous ones. Yes, but in more details in which the chronological analysis of newly unfolding political events would logically reveal which of these parallel excos is genuine.
Based on the successful conduct of the ward congress, the NWC subsequently conducted the local government congress on August 26 in which the ward officers elected during March 7 congress were eligible voters. Also, in a similar sequence, the state congress was held on August 30, at Petim Hotel and the party state officers successfully emerged.
Now, its on record that the Olujimi group did not participate in the local government congress, hinging their position on their pending appeal against the decision of the lower court on the ward congress. Of course, how would they have participated in the local government congress relying on the list of the ward officers they have disowned? They even went to the extent of writing the INEC and NWC not to hold the local government congress when the timetable was released.
Something cannot stand on nothing. The Olujimi group by their actions have not recognized the ward and local government officers legitimately elected and recognized by the NWC, hence its baseless for the group to suddenly pronounce any parallel exco at the state level having repudiated the ward and local government congresses that served as inevitable foundation to the state congress. No student is qualified to proceed into the university without acquiring the primary and secondary education. They are still challenging the ward congress at the appellate court. Hence, they cannot approbate and reproabate at the same time.
Having successfully held the state congress, it has now become very clear to Olujimi that the NWC has taken a definite position on the matter; therefore they generated their own list of exco, insinuating that the Ekiti PDP has parallel excos as a gimmick to keep their followers together. Where did they get the list of ward and local government excos that voted in their own state congress purportedly held at the Lotus Hotel even without their arrow head in attendance? Anyway, their followers are now well grounded with the facts of the matter.
Convection or congress where party executives would be elected is purely an internal affairs of political parties in which the INEC *may* observe (see section 85:2 of the 2010 Electoral Act as amended). And, so far there is no court injunction or pronouncements forbidding PDP local govt and state congresses. The ward and local govt executives have only performed one of their constitutional duties by electing the state officers at the state congress.
Again, assuming the lower court has only fined the petitioners (Olujimis) 200 thousand naira and referred the matter to be handled by the “party”. Then, who is the “party”? Is Fayose or Olujimi the “party”? I think the NWC as the highest ruling body who has conducted the congresses and recognized the excos loyal to Fayose is the “party”, which has final say in its internal affairs. Would the court now counter rule that the conduct of congresses is no longer party affairs? I doubt much.
Unfortunately, the people that have endlessly orchestrated and celebrated that the court has only referred the matter to the party to decide do not want to comply with the position of the party! Perhaps, there is an ulterior motive. In my last article, I have exhaustively explained why sharing of exco posts amongst groups might not be a good option under this circumstance. Of course, sharing or harmonization of exco is unknown to the Ekiti state chapter of the PDP since 1999
The former Governor Segun Oni who recently returned to the PDP, having carefully watched the political scenario eventually joined Fayose’s mainstream group. He was physically present at Petim, venue of their state congress alongside other leaders.
However, it’s important to realise the fact that God enthrones and dethrones Kings. Sponsoring people as party officers is not the only weapon of electoral victory after all many have won elections in the past as Reps member, Senator, Deputy Governor, Governor, etc without having a single loyalist amongst the party officers ab-initio. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo came out of prison to contest and won as President of Nigeria in 1999.
According to the lists officially released by the NWC of the PDP, Chief Bisi Kolawole has emerged the new chairman of PDP in Ekiti State and he’s already functioning in that capacity with his executive members across the state.
Undoubtedly, all the political bickering and court cases initiated by the Olujimi group would eventually fizzle out based on antecedents. But, the new chairman, Chief Kolawole should be magnanimous in victory and extend the olive branch to members across board. I therefore appeal to Senator Biodun Olujimi and other aggrieved party members to sheathe their swords and cooperate with the new chairman in their struggle towards 2022 governorship election.
Truly, my analysis could be a little bit judgmental out of my concerns and love for the PDP. I personally believe that efforts to broker peace and reconcile the conflicting parties would be facilitated by hitting the nail on the head and making the true position of things bluntly known to some followers who might still be confused and remained in dilemma over the state of PDP affairs in Ekiti State.
Omotoso Okeya,
Journalist & Public Affairs Analyst.
