TheNewsGuru

Tag: ekiti

  • APC re-schedules Ekiti governorship primary

    APC re-schedules Ekiti governorship primary

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has rescheduled the Ekiti governorship primary election.

    Initially scheduled to take place on Friday, May 11, the primary has been shifted by a day – to Saturday, May 12, 2018.

    National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Bolaji Abdullahi, said the decision was taken after consultation between the APC National Working Committee (NWC), aspirants and other stakeholders.

    The APC had picked Friday for the exercise after the first primary, held on Saturday last week, was declared inconclusive due to violence.

    More to follow…

  • Ekiti APC crisis deepens as angry Fayemi walked out on Tinubu, Akande, others

    Ekiti APC crisis deepens as angry Fayemi walked out on Tinubu, Akande, others

    There are strong indications that the meeting organised by national leaders of the All Progressives Congress to find a common ground on the way forward after the botched Ekiti State APC governorship primaries has hit a brick wall.

    Kayode Fayemi, minister of mines and steel, walked out of the meeting which Bola Tinubu, a national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and some party leaders held with the governorship aspirants of the APC in Ekiti state, on Tuesday, TheCable authoritatively reports.

    Recall that TheNewsGuru reported yesterday that the meeting which took place at the Lagos state government house in Asokoro, Abuja comes just as the APC announced a new date for its botched primary in Ekiti to elect is flag bearer for the July 12 governorship election.

    The first primary, held on Saturday, was halted following violence at the venue as some aspirants accused the organisers of bias. May 11 has been announced as the new date for the primary.

    Many of the key aspirants in Ekiti are believed to be in attendance at Tuesday’s meeting.

    Mr Tinubu, though not an official of the APC, is considered by many as the leader of the party in the South-west.

    Some of the key aspirants in the Ekiti election have had reasons to work with Mr Tinubu in the past.

    Among the 33 APC governorship aspirants are the minister of mines, Kayode Fayemi; a presidential aide, Babefemi Ojudu; a former Ekiti State governor, Segun Oni; and a former aide to Mr Tinubu, Opeyemi Bamidele.

    In the course of the meeting:

    “Some of the party leaders in attendance were Bisi Akande, pioneer chairman of the party; Segun Osoba, former Ogun state governor; Niyi Adebayo, former Ekiti state governor; and Pius Akinyelure; zonal vice chairman of the APC in the south-west.

    “After discussing for like two hours, they agreed on a break.

    “The minister, who walked out of the room ahead of other aspirants and party leaders, ignored reporters who approached him.” TheCable.

  • [Update] Fayose’s man, Eleka defeats Adeyeye, wins PDP governorship primary in Ekiti

    [Update] Fayose’s man, Eleka defeats Adeyeye, wins PDP governorship primary in Ekiti

    Prof. Kolapo Olusola Eleka who is the the preferred candidate of Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has emerged the overall winner at the Peoples Democratic Party governorship primary conducted in the state today.

    Olushola will represent PDP come the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti state.

    With over 1000 votes out of the total 1968 votes cast, Kolapo Olusola, deputy governor of Ekiti state, polled 1,191 votes out of 1968 total numbers of voters.

    Olusola was declared winner at exactly 8.30 pm by Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who is the Chairman of the Ekiti PDP Governorship Primary Electoral Committee.

    Declaring the result, Okowa said: “We have come to the end of the congress and in the first instance, you are aware that just before voting started, Senator (Biodun) Olujimi stepped down and we have only Prof. Kolapo Olusola and Prince Dayo Adeyeye.

    “It was definitely a keen competition, at the end, we had total number of 1,968 accredited voters and Prof. Kolapo Olusola scored 1,190 votes and Prince Adedayo Adeyeye scored 771 votes.

    “That brings the total valid votes to 1, 961 with seven votes voided; I want to also announce that both aspirants told us that they did accept the results.

    “Before Prince Adeyeye left, he told me that he was quite satisfied with the conduct of the primary. I must thank all members of the State Congress Committee as appointed by the National Working Committee.

    “I want to thank everybody for your patience for the success of this primary. I want to thank the representatives of INEC who came out in good numbers.

    “I want to thank the Press, because without you, the world will not hear about it. I must also thank agents of our aspirants.

    “I hereby return Prof. Kolapo Olusola as the duly nominated gubernatorial candidate of the PDP for the Ekiti State gubernatorial election. I want to congratulate Prof. Kolapo Olusola for his victory at this gubernatorial state congress.”

    In his acceptance speech, Olusola appreciated everybody who contributed to the success of the PDP governorship primary extending his hand of fellowship to Adeyeye.

    Olusola said: “Today is historical, the victory of today has not only validated our loyalty to the party but it has also rekindled our trust in the democratic process.

    “I humbly and sincerely appreciate all our party stalwarts who have contributed to this victory, more importantly my mentor, a man with golden ideas who has stood solidly behind me, His Excellency, Chief Peter Ayodele Fayose.

    “I saluted the doggedness of my co-contestant, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye. I extend my hand of fellowship to you (Adeyeye). There is no victor, no vanquished.

    “Every hand must be on deck to economically develop Ekiti, the development witnessed under Governor Fayose must be sustained and we assure our people of transparent and inclusive governance.

    “We are aware of the intent of desperate interlopers to coerce Ekiti into economic slavery. Ekiti people are set and prepared to resist these interlopers loaded with evil intention. We are going to record another 16-0 victory.

    “I appreciate our dynamic delegates for making a good choice. I thank Governor Peter Ayodele Fayose for standing behind me daring all odds.”

  • BREAKING: Fayose’s candidate, Eleka emerges PDP gov flag bearer in Ekiti

    Prof. Kolapo Olusola Eleka who is the the preferred candidate of Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has emerged the overall winner at the Peoples Democratic Party governorship primary conducted in the state today.

    Olushola will represent PDP come the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti state.

    With over 1000 votes out of the total 1968 votes cast, Kolapo Olusola, deputy governor of Ekiti state, polled 1,191 votes out of 1968 total numbers of voters.

    Olusola was declared winner at exactly 8.30 pm by Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who is the Chairman of the Ekiti PDP Governorship Primary Electoral Committee.

    Declaring the result, Okowa said: “We have come to the end of the congress and in the first instance, you are aware that just before voting started, Senator (Biodun) Olujimi stepped down and we have only Prof. Kolapo Olusola and Prince Dayo Adeyeye.

    “It was definitely a keen competition, at the end, we had total number of 1,968 accredited voters and Prof. Kolapo Olusola scored 1,190 votes and Prince Adedayo Adeyeye scored 771 votes.

    “That brings the total valid votes to 1, 961 with seven votes voided; I want to also announce that both aspirants told us that they did accept the results.

    “Before Prince Adeyeye left, he told me that he was quite satisfied with the conduct of the primary. I must thank all members of the State Congress Committee as appointed by the National Working Committee.

    “I want to thank everybody for your patience for the success of this primary. I want to thank the representatives of INEC who came out in good numbers.

    “I want to thank the Press, because without you, the world will not hear about it. I must also thank agents of our aspirants.

    “I hereby return Prof. Kolapo Olusola as the duly nominated gubernatorial candidate of the PDP for the Ekiti State gubernatorial election. I want to congratulate Prof. Kolapo Olusola for his victory at this gubernatorial state congress.”

    In his acceptance speech, Olusola appreciated everybody who contributed to the success of the PDP governorship primary extending his hand of fellowship to Adeyeye.

    Olusola said: “Today is historical, the victory of today has not only validated our loyalty to the party but it has also rekindled our trust in the democratic process.

    “I humbly and sincerely appreciate all our party stalwarts who have contributed to this victory, more importantly my mentor, a man with golden ideas who has stood solidly behind me, His Excellency, Chief Peter Ayodele Fayose.

    “I saluted the doggedness of my co-contestant, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye. I extend my hand of fellowship to you (Adeyeye). There is no victor, no vanquished.

    “Every hand must be on deck to economically develop Ekiti, the development witnessed under Governor Fayose must be sustained and we assure our people of transparent and inclusive governance.

    “We are aware of the intent of desperate interlopers to coerce Ekiti into economic slavery. Ekiti people are set and prepared to resist these interlopers loaded with evil intention. We are going to record another 16-0 victory.

    “I appreciate our dynamic delegates for making a good choice. I thank Governor Peter Ayodele Fayose for standing behind me daring all odds.”

  • Botched primary: Tinubu, Osoba, others hold secret talks with Ekiti APC aspirants

    Botched primary: Tinubu, Osoba, others hold secret talks with Ekiti APC aspirants

    Sequel to the postponement of the Ekiti governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held on Saturday due to alleged irregularities and violence, the National leader of the party, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, a former governor of Ogun State, Aremo Segun Osoba and a select group of APC leaders from the South West are holding a secret meeting at the Lagos State Government Lodge Annex in Abuja.

    The meeting which started about an hour ago, was part of efforts to find a common ground on the way forward after the botched Ekiti State APC governorship primaries.

    According to a report by The Punch, the meeting has in attendance most of the contestants.

    A source privy to the meeting said the meeting which was scheduled for 2:00 pm was shifted to 4:00 pm because some of those expected for the meeting were held up at the Akure Airport.

    This is even as the party has announced Friday as the new date for the conclusion of the botched exercise.

    National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi told reporters that the party’s National Working Committee took the decision after considering the report of its panel sent to conduct the primaries.

     

    Details later…

  • Ekiti 2018: APC to retake botched governorship primary on Friday

    Ekiti 2018: APC to retake botched governorship primary on Friday

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has scheduled another governorship primary election in Ekiti state for Friday.

    Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesman of the party, disclosed this to reporters in Abuja on Tuesday, saying Tanko Al-Makura, governor of Nasarawa state, will still chair the election committee.

    The primary election which held on Saturday ended on an inconclusive note as agents who said the process had been manipulated disrupted the exercise.

    They smashed ballot boxes and prevented delegates from voting. Only delegates from four out of the 16 local government areas of the state had voted when violence broke out.

    Thirty-three aspirants partook in the botched exercise.

    Kayode Fayemi, minister of mines and steel, who is one of the aspirants seeking the APC ticket for the July 14 election, had blamed some “desperate elements” for the crisis.

    He accused Babafemi Ojudu, an adviser of President Muhammadu Buhari, and Bimbo Daramola, a former house of representatives member, of contributing to the poor outcome of the exercise which he said was going in his favour.

    Both Ojudu and Daramola are aspirants in the party.

    Twenty-seven aspirants of the party had met in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, on Sunday to demand a fresh primary election.

    They also demanded the disbanding of the election committee chaired by Al-Makura.

    APC has up till Monday to present its candidate for July election.

     

  • Ekiti Primary: APC to disqualify governorship aspirants over violence

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday said it will disqualify aspirants found guilty of disrupting the Ekiti governorship primary held on Saturday.

    The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, gave this hint while responding to reporters’ questions at the APC National Secretariat, in Abuja, on Monday.

    He spoke after the party’s National Working Committee received the report of the Governor Tanko Al-Makura- led Ekiti State Governorship Primary Committee.

    Abdullahi explained that the NWC would meet on Monday night to take a final decision which would be made public today (Tuesday).

    The party spokesman, however, declined to give the names of the aspirants who stood the risk of disqualification.

    He said, “We just received a report from the chairman of the committee that we sent to Ekiti to conduct the governorship primary, the governor of Nasarawa state, Governor Tanko Al-Makura.

    “He gave us a full report orally and submitted a written report of what transpired in Ekiti. They also made specific recommendations, which gave the NWC a couple of options on how to proceed.

    “The NWC is meeting tonight (Monday) to consider the report and tomorrow morning, we will be able to make our decision clear on how to proceed.”

    Speaking specifically about the violence which marred the exercise, he stated, “What I can assure you is that the individuals that took part in disrupting the exercise in Ekiti have been fully identified and we know the people they represented at the event.

    “If we find them to be culpable accordingly, the aspirants they represent will be disqualified from the exercise and the individuals that participated in disrupting the exercise will be fully prosecuted.

    “That is what I can tell you at the moment. But tonight (Monday), we will meet to consider the report and we will make our decision known and send the team back to Ekiti as part of the way forward.”

  • Ekiti PDP Primary: Fayose’s deputy, senator, others battle for delegates’ votes today

    No fewer than 2,132 delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will participate in Tuesday’s governorship primary election for the July 14 election in Ekiti State.

    The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, made this known when he briefed newsmen on preparations for the primary in Abuja on Monday.

    Ologbondiyan said the number of delegates was made up of 1,585 statutory and 547 elected and national.

    He explained that the statutory delegates comprised party officials, current and past elected councillors, council chairman, former State Working Committee members, and members of National Assembly.

    The others, according to him, are former federal lawmakers, speakers, serving and former members of National Executive Committee, who are still members of the party and former governors.

    Ologbondiyan also disclosed that all the 51 appointees of the state governor who did not resign their appointments but contested delegate election and won at the Ward level had been dropped.

    He said that the delegates were dropped because they did not resign their appointments in line with the Constitution of the party, adding that PDP, as father of democracy was committed to always doing what was right.

    The spokesman disclosed that the Primary Election Committee for the state had Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as chairman, while the party’s National Chairman, Uche Secondus, would chair the Appeal Committee.

    “All other members of the National Working Committee (NWC) are also members of the Appeal Committee which will be sitting in Abuja on Thursday.’’

    He added that all three aspirants in the party had been cleared for the primary election by the party’s Screening Committee.

    The aspirants are incumbent Deputy Governor of the state, Olusola Eleka; a senator representing Ekiti South Senatorial District, Abiodun Olujimi and the immediate past National Publicity Secretary of the party, Dayo Adeyeye.

    Ologbondiyan expressed optimism that the primary would be transparent and successful, saying, “So far, the three aspirants are happy with all arrangements.

    “The processes leading to the primary are very transparent and that is why there have not been any complaints from them.

    “The party is desirous of sticking to the rules and making sure that a popular candidate emerged,” he said.

    Ologbondiyan urged delegates to the primary and party members to continue in their resolve to work together to ensure a smooth and hitch-free exercise.

    “The party commends all stakeholders, particularly the aspirants, for the spirit of sportsmanship being displayed in their commitment toward a peaceful, free and credible process.

    “The party further lauds the stakeholders in the state for keeping to their resolve to work together to ensure the victory of the party at the main election, irrespective of the outcome of the primary election.

    “The leadership of the party restates its stand to continue in the highest level of transparency and to ensure an all-inclusive playing ground for all aspirants in all the processes leading to the governorship primary.’’

    He advised PDP members in Ekiti to remain vigilant and give no chance to external forces, who might be used to attempt to disrupt the peace of the state.

     

  • Fayemi is a wicked liar, his actions truncated Ekiti APC Primary – Ojodu

    Fayemi is a wicked liar, his actions truncated Ekiti APC Primary – Ojodu

    Ekiti Rebirth Organisation (ERO), the campaign group of leading aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Babafemi Ojudu, has described as “wicked lies from a tormented soul,” the statement by the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, alleging that Ojudu masterminded the crisis that marred the APC primary election in Ekiti on Saturday.

    ERO Director General, Chief Ranti Adebisi, said that Fayemi’s statement was nothing but “another tantrums from Fayemi whose political fortune has taken a deep slide in recent times and whose entire campaign strategy was built on lies, orchestrated violence and cheap anti-democratic tricks.”

    A statement signed by Fayemi’s Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode alluded that Ojudu and another aspirant, Bimbo Daramola masterminded the violence and destruction of ballot boxes, having realised that the former governor was already in a clear lead in the four local councils that had cast their votes.

    Adebisi, however, pointed out that “The entire incident that happened at the stadium was caught on camera and broadcast on National Television. We implore the security agents who made several arrests at the scene to make public the identities of the people arrested and their sponsors. I can tell you 100 percent that they have no link whatsoever to the Ojudu campaign.

    Adebisi continued: “Fayemi has been the candidate threatening violence since he joined the race last month. He threatened to cripple the state if not given the party ticket. He deployed security agents to intimidate delegates even during the conduct of the primaries.

    “He is the aspirant that has been avoiding democratic test of popularity, the chronology of events that culminated into the stampede at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, is known to the public, as some of them were also captured on camera. Those videos are everywhere on the social media for everybody to see.

    “Clearly, if there is anyone desperate, that person is Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the stakes are high for him as a former governor who lost his seat wholesale and as wobbled as a serving Minister. It is his degree of desperation that has caused the latest show of shame in Ekiti.

    “Ojudu has no reason whatsoever to want the voting disrupted since we were projected to win. But we are appealing to our delegates and supporters across the state to remain calm.

    “Fayemi came late into this very contest to realise that the boat has left the shore. He is now looking for any straw to hang unto. He was shocked to realise that his much advertised hold on the state executive was a fluke.

    He was shocked that Ojudu was coasting home with a landslide so he has to haphazardly change from one rigging strategy to the other but Ekiti people are not fools.”

    “We don’t support violence, our campaign does not use thugs. We don’t use self-help. However, Ekiti people have made the statement loud and clear that they no longer want Fayemi. We are sure of our support base. If this election is conducted ten times Ojudu will win,” Adebisi concluded.

  • Inconclusive primaries: Expect more violence from APC come 2019 – Fayose

    Governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose, has mocked the disruption of Saturday’s All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries by thugs allegedly loyal to one of the aspirants.

    The voting exercise in the governorship primaries of the APC in Ekiti was disrupted on Saturday by some protesters at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado-Ekiti, venue of the exercise.

    The protesters had alleged that attempts were being made by some party officials to compromise the process.

    Reacting, Fayose took to his Twitter handle to describe APC members as ”hypocrites and enemies of democracy” adding that the party is a house divided against itself.

    He wrote, ”The whole world can now see the so-called progressives. Ordinary primary election, the APC could not hold here in Ekiti. These people are hypocrites and enemies of democracy, masquerading as progressives.

    ”Their party is a house divided against itself, its center will never hold.

    ”If they could be this violent during their own primary election, won’t they do worse things during the election proper?

    ”INEC must be mindful of being used to manipulate the July 14 election in favour of APC. More so that they have by their conduct today, failed themselves.”