Following the move by pro- Biodun Olujimi to the Supreme Court over the ward congresses of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State, Fayose faction has expressed its disappointment over the decision to challenge the last Wednesday judgement of the Appeal Court, saying the decision was against the peace process embarked upon by former Governor of the State, Ayodele Fayose.
Newsflash had earlier reported that the Appeal Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti had on Wednesday, dismissed an appeal filed by the Olujimi group against the judgment of a Federal High Court over the party’s ward congresses.
Delivering judgment in the case with suit number: CA /EK / 57 / 2020, Justice T. N Orji -Abadua, upheld the decision of the trial court and held that the appellant’s case was not justiciable on the ground that it was a matter that emanated from intra-party affairs.
But Olujimi faction, rising from a meeting in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, stated that “after extensive deliberation, considering the pros and cons, the appellate court judgment on the matter should be appealed at the Supreme Court, where it is believed that justice will be manifestly done.”
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting and signed by the state factional Publicity Secretary, Sanya Adesua, the party praised its members “for their steadfastness and belief in the eventual triumph of justice over injustice and truth over falsehood”.
The communiqué was titled, ‘The resolutions of the Ekiti State PDP under the chairmanship of Hon Kehinde Odebunmi.”
The Appeal Court had on Wednesday upheld the lower court’s judgment that the matter was an internal affair of the party and by implication, approved the congresses conducted by the pro-Ayodele Fayose faction of the party.
The pro-Olujimi group is seeking an order of the court restraining the PDP National Working Committee from announcing, publishing, and recognising any list as a result of election of the ward executives and three ad-hoc delegates held on March 7, 2020.
They had also sought an order of the court restraining the party from acting on, or making use of the names of winners of the congresses for the purpose of the local government, state and zonal congresses.
The group, at the Saturday meeting, resolved that “the State Working Committee under the leadership of Hon Kehinde Odebunmi should be sustained and encouraged to go ahead with the running of the party in Ekiti.”
“All governorship aspirants are encouraged to go ahead with their consultation and mobilisation of the generality of Ekiti people, who are anxiously waiting for a PDP governor in 2022. However, such sensitisation must be devoid of rancour,” the communique stated.
In reacting to the development by Fayose group over pro-Olujimi’s action, the chairman of the Ekiti State PDP loyal to Fayose, Bisi Kolawole, said although the pro-Olujimi group had the right to appeal, “the peace process is on and nothing will disrupt it. We are confident the peace process will yield fruit”.
Kolawole said “”this kind of release coming from those on the other side with whom Governor Fayose and the party are already seeking peace, is very discouraging.”
He said “It pains me that having convinced our leader, former Governor Ayodele Fayose to embark on reconciliation moves, this kind of release coming from those on the other side with whom he is seeking peace, is very discouraging.
“For people to be getting retrogressive and trying to draw us back is very disappointing.
“Having succeeded in getting Governor Fayose to buy into the peace process and reach out to our people on the others side, which he has been doing, alongside the party’s State Working Committee even before the Appeal Court judgment of last Wednesday, it is very disappointing that those with whom he is seeking peace are acting like they are not ready.
“Not because I want to be chairman or because I am the chairman, but I want everyone together as one family so that we can focus on 2022 and 2023 elections.
“I wish that those on the other side can also show sign of readiness for peace.
“Nevertheless, I still want to encourage all of us to allow the peace efforts embarked on by our leader to materialise.
“We all know that nothing will come out of the court but in the interest of the generality of the party members and in particular, the people of Ekiti who are under the yoke of misgovernance by the APC and are yearning for the return of PDP to power, we need to give peace a chance.
“One is however encouraged with the positive disposition of a good majority of reasonable members of the Olujimi’s group to reconciliation and unification of the party and I am convinced that the bridge building efforts will continue with the hope that sooner than later, the remaining minority, who are pushing for hardline positions will allow the peace efforts to achieve desired results.”
