Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ekiti State has now settled for Mr. Peter Ayodele Fayose, as the gubernatorial candidate for the party in the election of June 21, 2014 in the state.
In the primaries held on Saturday March 22, 2014, Fayose defeated 15 other aspirants at the primaries as he polled 462, out of the 477 ballot papers dispensed at the primaries. Before voting started, 544 delegates were accredited for the election before they started voting in sequence of two local governments each for the election.
First local governments to start voting at the election were Oye and Ikole and the election ended Efon and Ikere local government councils.
The chairman of the 5-man gubernatorial primaries panel former Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, read the lists of contestants to include: Ambassador Dare Bejide, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, Mrs. Dada Cecilia, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, Adeyanju Bodunde, Mrs. Ogundipe Modupe, Surv. Abiodun Aluko and Mr. Adewale Aribisala.
Others are Mr. Bisi Omoyeni, Senator Gbenga Aluko, Senator Bode Olowoporoku, Mr. Ropo Ogunbolude, Dr. Peter Obafemi and two others.
After the collation and counting of results, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade(rtd)had 7 votes, Prince Dayo Adeyeye , 3 votes while Mrs.
Margreat Modupe Ogundipe scored 1 vote. Four votes were voided at the primary.
Before casting of votes, the chairman of the 5-member Ekiti State PDP gubernatorial primaries panel, His Excellency, Dr. Peter Odili, said the national Executive Council of the PDP under the leadership of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the new chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mua’zu, have resolved to turn the party around and show the way for a true democracy.
Odili, pointed out that the PDP is poised to ensure internal democracy for the party in all its ramifications; adding that the process of the Ekiti primaries was going to be transparent while urging all delegates to display orderliness and maturity.
It is on record that 15 other aspirants who had paid the nomination and registration fees to contest the primaries boycotted the polls having disagreed with the Ward congress committee that conducted the election last week Wednesday. They alleged the committee of manipulating the process, just as they called for a fresh ward congress or the suspension of the already manipulated congress.
The primaries, which was witnessed by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from Abuja and Ekiti State chapter. Security was beefed up within and outside the venue by the operatives of the police, SSS and the NSCDC.
At the end of the day, Ayo Fayose was declared winner of the election. This has since put to rest the crisis that has bedeviled the Ekiti State PDP since 2013 till date. The party has had serious crisis on the issue of zoning the gubernatorial ticket of the party to a south senatorial district of the state, which since inception had not had the opportunity to produce and governorship candidate.
For the records, some hoodlums came around to protests and disturb the peace of the venue. But, some security operatives had to take control at the venue, the Great Eagle Hall, on Ado- Ikere, Road, to prevent possible breakdown of law and order.
Reacting to his victory, Mr. Ayo Fayose, popularly called
“Oshokomole” said: “the whole process was transparent and the panel has demonstrated that they are capable to handle such an election.”
He promised to start the process of reconciliation and appealed to all aggrieved members and aspirants in the party to please come on board and let them work together as one .
In thanking all present, Dr. Peter Odili, commended the PDP members, for their outstanding orderliness and discipline during the election.
He also expressed his commendation to the official monitors, observers and INEC for a fruitful day.
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