Ekiti 2022: Olujimi absent as Repositioning group conduct shadow election
Ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary, the Repositioning Group loyal to the lawmaker representing Ekiti South in the Senate, Senator Biodun Olujimi, is set to pick the group’s guber candidate.
The shadow Election for the group will take place today (Friday) at Ajaleye Events Centre, Polytechnic Road, Ado Ekiti, the state capital.
Recall that there were two major factions of the party in the state, Ayo Fayose and a serving senator, Biodun Olujimi.
Although the third faction is of the former governor of the state, Segun Oni and his followers returned to the PDP from APC last year.
Newsflash Nigeria understands that the Olujimi groups named as Repositioning Group clashed over the agitation for power shift to the south zone by rings leader of the group.
According to a report gathered by Newsflash Nigeria, Biodun Olujimi who is hopeful to contest the governorship position boycott the shadow election.
The statement released by Olujimi south agenda said any primary election against the interest and agitations of Ekiti South to produce PDP guber candidate is a shame, complete failure and dead on arrival and as such disassociates herself from September 3rd or thereafter’s Primary Election.
“EKITI SOUTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT DISASSOCIATES ITSELVES FROM ANY PRIMARY ELECTION AGAINST THE INTEREST AND AGITATIONS OF EKITI SOUTH AGENDA TO PRODUCE THE PDP GUBER CANDIDATE
“Ably congregated on the 2nd day of September 2022 where Eminent Astute Leaders & Stakeholders of repute & High Timbre Caliber from the three Senatorial Districts in Ekiti-State met & resolved that any Primary Election without the inclusion of South Agenda’s interest or conducted against the collective agitations to produce the next Governorship “Candidate from Ekiti South Senatorial District is synthetic, a sham, complete failure & dead on arrival & as such disassociates itselves from September 3rd or thereafter’s Primary Election & reiterated that by God’s grace, the next sitting Governor of Ekiti State must be produced from Ekiti South Senatorial District” Ekiti South agenda Youth Movement Wing said.
The aspirants’ contest under the Repositioning group includes the former deputy governor of the state, Dr Sikiru Tae Lawal, a Lagos-based businessman and senatorial aspirant of the party in 2014, Lateef Ajijola and Otunba Yinka Akerele.
Politics Update: Ekiti 2022: Group threatens to boycott the election if the party fails to zone gubernatorial
In February, the Fayose group named Osoko People’s Assembly (OPA) had endorsed Bisi Kolawole, the current chairman of PDP in the state as his preferred candidate and had unveiled in May, to his supporters in all wards in the state.
The ring leader of the group, Ayo Fayose, former governor of the state described Kolawole as a bridge-builder, who can usher in a better future for Ekiti and the party, commended two former House of Representatives members, Hons Ayodeji Oladimeji and Segun Adekola for stepping down for Kolawole to allow peace to reign, saying “this was a mark of respect for my leadership.”
The choice of Kolawole endorsed by Fayose polarised his political platform, Osoko People’s Assembly (OPA) where two aspirants who are in the camp, his deputy during the second term, Kolapo Olusola Eleka and Wale Aribisala put out from the group.
Recall that, Newsflash Nigeria had earlier reported that the PDP had fixed January 28, 2022, for the party’s primary.
The PDP timetable outlined the schedule of activities in the build-up to the Party primary election, starting from the publishing of the Notice of Party Election/Congresses to the State chapter on September 1, 2021.
The date for the aspirants to obtain the nomination form starting from September 13 to September 30, 2021.
Meanwhile, Any today’s win of Repositioning Group will be facing Fayose’s candidate, Bisi Kolawole, Segun Oni and others.