The crisis in the Ekiti State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday deepened as former Governor Ayodele Fayose and the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Biodun Olujimi inaugurated parallel Atiku /Obi Campaign Council.
While the Olujimi inauguration took place at the Ajilosun area and was attended by members of the party loyal to her, Fayose’s inauguration took place at his former campaign office in Adebayo area of the state capital.
The former governor described another gathering purportedly held to inaugurate a campaign council by Olujimi as a nullity.
He warned that he was not contesting for any elective position, saying that he may mobilise the people to vote out those he described as ‘traitors’.
“They need me more than I need them. We will ask our people to vote against these betrayers,” he said.
According to the former governor, the campaign council was carefully selected to represent all shades of opinion in the state PDP, wondering what the complaint was all about.
In his remarks the Chairman of the campaign council for both camp and former Deputy Governor, Prof Kolapo Olusola distanced himself from the Olujimi inauguration.
Olusola said that the Olujimi Council was illegitimate.
“There is no alternative campaign council except this one. Any other campaign council where my name appears is illegal,” he said.
The state PDP chairman, Barrister Gboyega Oguntuase in his opening remarks said that the Fayose led Council was the legitimate body.
He said this “is the only legitimate gathering where authority resides. Any other gathering is illegal and illegitimate but we shall not be provoked.”
But Olujimi, who inaugurated her own campaign council, said that injustice breeds impunity, adding that if the party stakeholders met and selected people, no individual including Fayose had the right to void same.
She said though she was not a party to the selection of the campaign council, they have a right to continue with their assignment.
“What we said we don’t want is to say that they don’t matter.
“Those appointed have started work, they have even written letters to the state government for the release of the Stadium. They were supposed to have been inaugurated on January 3rd. Suddenly everything changed and Fayose tinkered with the list.
“Why we are here is that we are saying that we cannot shift the goalpost in the middle of the game. We are standing by the original list.”
Commentaires