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Tag: Fayemi

  • Fayemi expresses optimism as card reader rejects wife’s PVC

    Fayemi expresses optimism as card reader rejects wife’s PVC

    The candidate of the APC in the ongoing governorship election in Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, says his wife’s vote is important to him.

    Speaking when the card reader failed to recognise his wife’s PVC, after he himself had voted at Unit 9 Ward 11 in Isan Ekiti, the governorship candidate said his wife’s vote was one vote he could not afford to joke with.

    He, however, said his wife, Mrs. Bisi Fayemi, would come back to vote.

    Fayemi also said he believed in the process and that was why he contested and came out to vote.

    He said his expectation was that he would win the election and would be declared the winner accordingly, going by his “track record.”

     

    Details later…

  • All eyes on Ekiti as electorates decide between Eleka, Fayemi today

    All eyes on Ekiti as electorates decide between Eleka, Fayemi today

    The much talked about governorship election in Ekiti State will hold today, Saturday 14 July, 2018.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that a total of 35 governorship candidates representing 35 political parties will take part in today’s election in the State.

    Among these candidates, two are considered the front-runners. They are ex-governor Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress and Prof. Kolapo Olusola-Eleka of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Oluso-Eleka is the incumbent deputy to Governor Ayodele Fayose while Fayemi resigned as Minister of Mines and Steel Development in the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. He was also a former governor of the state between 2010 – 2014.

    However, today’s election has not been without its many hurdles with accusations and counter-accusations flying in all directions from the two leading candidates and political parties.

    Earlier in the week, Governor Fayose accused the police of brutalizing him, blocking the government house and campaign office of his deputy, Eleka-Olusola.

    Tensions are high and some residents have vowed not to participate in the elections as their security seemed not to be guaranteed with the recent happenings in the state.

    However, the Police on Thursday deployed over 30,000 policemen to the state along with sister security agencies; a move that has attracted heavy criticisms from traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the state.

     

    See profile of the participating candidates below:

     

    John Olukayode Fayemi (APC)

    Mr Fayemi enters the race as a former governor of Ekiti State serving (2010 to 2014) on the platform of the All Progressives Congress. He hails from Isan Ekiti, in Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti North Senatorial District.

    He holds a doctorate in War Studies from the prestigious King’s College, University of London, England, specialising in civil-military relations.

    Before his entrance into politics, Mr Fayemi served as Director, Centre for Democracy and Development(CDD) between 1997 and 2006.

    He was defeated by Ayodele Fayose of the PDP while seeking re-election in 2014. He was later appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari as Minister of Mines and Steel Development, the position he resigned to contest the July 14 election.

     

    Kolapo Olusola Eleka (PDP)

    He is the incumbent deputy governor of the state from Ikere Ekiti, Ekiti South Senatorial District.

    Mr Olusola is a professor of Building Technology at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, with a track record of excellence in his academic field. He came straight from the academic environment to become deputy governor of the state. He is running to succeed his boss, Ayodele Fayose.

     

    Ayodeji Lawrence Ayodele (APGA)

    He is a former Nigerian envoy to Greece.

    Mr Ayodele is an accomplished diplomat who rose to the position of Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He had a brief stint with the Mega Progressive Peoples Party. He reportedly moved to APGA as the party rushed to hold primaries.

    He emerged as APGA candidate under controversial circumstances.

     

    Sikiru Lawal Tae (LP)

    Mr Lawal, a former chieftain of the PDP in Ekiti State, was the deputy governor of the state under governor Segun Oni between 2007 and 2010.

    He recently resigned his membership of the PDP after the crisis which occurred as a result of the choice of the party’s candidate by governor Ayo Fayose.

     

    Abiodun Aluko (AP)

    Mr Aluko was a successful surveyor before venturing into politics.

    He was the leader of the Ayo Fayose Movement (AFM).

    He later became Mr Fayose’s deputy before he was impeached after both politicians fell apart. He has oscillated between the PDP, NDP and recently the MPN, before clinching the ticket of the Accord Party.

     

    Jeremiah Adebisi Omoyeni (MPN)

    The banker hails from Ikere Ekiti. He served as deputy governor after Mr Aluko was impeached under Ayo Fayose. He was a governorship aspirant in 2014 in the PDP.

     

    Shola Omolola (AA)

    He was elected the state chairman of Action Alliance(AA), Lagos State, last year.

    He has been very active in the politics of Lagos and was appointed secretary of the Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Lagos.

     

    Ben Olaniyi Agboola (AD)

    Mr Agboola is a marketing and advertising expert who has worked with different companies in Nigeria and abroad.

    He was a Sales Project Coordinator at Globacom Nig Limited.

    He obtained his HND, Business Administration from the Federal Polytechnic Ado Ekiti in 1992 and an MBA at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology where he studied marketing in 1999 and proceeded to South London Business College where he obtained Diploma in Information Technology in 2005.

     

    ‎Babatunde Henry Afe (ANRP)

    Mr Afe is the founder and General Overseer of House of Faith Christian Centre, Ado Ekiti.

    He claims to also double as a businessman and a farmer.

    He is a graduate of Economics from the University of Ilorin and also runs a training consultancy. He prides himself as being among the four biggest farmers in the state with several hundreds hectares of farm.

     

    Segun Adewale (ADP)

    Mr Adewale, popularly known as Segun Aeroland, is from Ipoti Ekiti in Ijero Local Government Area.

    A well known businessman and philanthropist based in Lagos, he was senatorial candidate for Lagos West on the platform of the PDP during the 2015 election.

    He is the CEO, Aeroland Travel Limited.

    He has been in active politics in Lagos and made efforts to be elected a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly on the Labour Party ticket, but was unsuccessful.

    He defected to the Alliance for Democracy and then to the PDP in 2011 to run for the Federal House of Representative, Alimosho Federal Constituency, but lost the election to Solomon Olamilekan Adeola of the then Action Congress of Nigeria.

    He is a recipient of many awards, particularly in the aviation industry.

     

    Bode Olowoporoku (NDPC)

    He is a UK-trained economist with a Phd in Economics. He was also a Minister of Science and Technology under Usman Shehu Shagari government. He was elected senator representing Ekiti South Senatorial District from 2003 to 2007.

     

    Dare Bejide (PPN)

    He was the Secretary to the Ekiti State Government under the governorship tenure of Segun Oni.

    He is from Ilawe, in Ekiti South senatorial district.

    He has also served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Canada.

    He was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party until the crisis following the adoption of Kolapo Olusola, his deputy. He joined PPN to emerge the candidate of the party for Saturday’s election.

     

    Orubuloye Dele Lucas (AGA)

    An engineer by profession, he studied at the University of Mandras, Chennai, in India.

    He hails from Are Ekiti.

    He represents the All Grassroots Alliance Party.

     

    Tosin Ajibare (ID)

    He is said to be below 35 years old and the youngest candidate in the Ekiti governorship race.

    According to him, he represents the face of the youth in Ekiti State. Mr Ajibare is from Ikere Ekiti and a graduate of Business Administration.

    He is the founder of the Movement for the Development of Youths and Children, an NGO based in Ekiti State.

    He represents the Independent Democrats Party.

     

    Olajumoke Saheed (DA)

    He holds a BSc in accounting from the Ekiti State University and was voted the governorship candidate of the Democratic Alternative on May 12.

     

    Temitope Omotayo (YPP)

    The 35-year-old candidate, follows Mr Ajibade as one of the youthful candidates in the contest. A graduate of Economics from the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, as well as a law degree from the University of Lagos.

    He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2013 and partner at the Fasina and Omotayo law firm.

    He represents the Young Progressives Party.

     

    Tope Adebayo (APDA)

    Mr Adebayo is a legal practitioner and obtained his law degree at the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, before proceeding to the University of Lagos for his masters degree also in law.

    He was president of the Students’ Union, and prides himself as one among a few students union leaders who emerged best graduating student. He also attended Havard where he took a leadership course in preparation for his task to govern Ekiti State.

    He represents the Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance.

     

    Akinloye Ayegbusi (SDP)

    Mr Ayegbusi, 44, before his foray into politics was an Executive Director at Eco Bank Plc. He said he only started thinking about politics in March this year, as contesting the governorship was never in his plans for the year.

    He represents the Social Democratic Party.

     

    Saheed Olawale Jimoh (APA)

    Mr Jimoh, 44, was a candidate of the African Peoples Alliance for the House of Representatives seat for Ado Ekiti/Irepodun/Ifelodun Federal Constituency, Ekiti State in 2015 but was unsuccessful.

    The APA found him worthy of its ticket and would be expecting Ekiti people to vote for him on Saturday.

     

    ‎Other candidates and their parties are:

    Oribamise Stephen Ojo (AGAP)

    Olanrewaju Olalekan (DPC)

    Adegboye Ajayi (BNPP)

    David-Adesua Ayodele (DA)

    Sule Olalekan Ganiyu (FJP)

    Adewale OlusholaAkinyele(GPN)

    Akerele Oluyinka Gbenga(DPP)

    Amuda Temitope Kazeem(KOWA)

    Jegede Olabode Gregory (MMN)

    Babatunde OladapoAlegbeleye (NDLP)

    Oladosu Olaniyan (NPC)

    Ayoyinka Oluwaseun Dada (PDC)

    Animashaun Goke (PPA)

    Adeleye John Olusegun (UDP)

    Gboyega Olufemi Jacob (UPN)

    Fakorede Ayodeji Ebenezer (YDP)

  • Ekiti poll: FG spending Abacha’s loot to sponsor Fayemi – Eleka

    The governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State, Prof. Kolapo Olusola-Eleka, has accused the Federal Government of moving part of the $321m recovered from the late Abacha family to Ekiti for Saturday’s governorship election.

    Eleka, who is the incumbent deputy governor, said about $50m of the recovered loot was moved from Abuja in a chartered flight through Akure Airport to Ekiti in two bullion vans to support the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Dr Kayode Fayemi.

    The Director, Media and Publicity of Kolapo Olusola Campaign Organisation, Lere Olayinka, raised this alarm at a press briefing in Ado Ekiti on Thursday.

    He said, “Last week Saturday, two bullion vehicles were moved to the Akure Airport to evacuate cash brought from Abuja by a chartered flight.

    “The flight landed when it was raining and all staff members of the airport were barred from going near the aircraft while the cash was evacuated into the two bullion vehicles.

    “After offloading the huge cash, the bullion van first moved to the Ondo State Government House in Akure from where they left for Isan Ekiti, the hometown of the APC governorship candidate, Dr Kayode Fayemi.”

    Eleka claimed that preliminary findings indicated that N2.5bn cash was transferred by the Kebbi State Government to an account in UBA, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.

    “It was withdrawn immediately and moved with a private jet to Akure. Also, apart from the N2.5bn, another $50m (about N18bn) was taken from the $321m recovered from the late Abacha family.

    “Our question is, how can a government that claimed to be fighting corruption released billions of naira from the public coffers for the governorship election of a single state? Where is their fight against corruption?”

    Eleka called on Nigerians to note this wanton looting of public fund by the APC government to fund the election of its members.

    “We must tell Fayemi and his APC that the conscience of the people of Ekiti cannot be purchased and we call on the people of Ekiti to resist the planned use of the stolen fund to buy their votes of Saturday,” he added.

    Eleka also called the attention of the public to alleged intimidation and harassment of PDP members by men of the Department of State Services and policemen.

    But reacting, the Director, Media and Publicity, Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation, Wole Olujobi, described the allegation as coming from the pit of hell.

    He said, “Discerning minds will note the lies contained in the story by a single logic that it took Eleka (Olusola) and Olayinka a whole week after the leak of funds movement before they alerted Nigerians about a purported money cargo being offloaded in Akure for Fayemi’s election in Ekiti.

    “By this lie from the pit of hell, we know that the PDP is trying to paint a picture that it is a comrade-in-crime with APC after Fayose’s 2014 poll fraud funded with the loot from the office of the National Security Adviser.”

  • Ekiti poll: Police to withdraw Fayose, Fayemi’s security

    Ekiti poll: Police to withdraw Fayose, Fayemi’s security

    The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Operations, Mr. Habila Joshak, has said the security details of important personalities in Ekiti will be withdrawn on Saturday — the day of governorship election.

    The Police boss added that no party will be allowed to hold any political rally that is not approved by the Police until the election is held.

    Addressing journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday, Joshak said he will work with one Assistant Inspector General of Police, Mr. H.H. Karma; and three other Commissioners of Police — Ali Janga, J.B. Kokumo and G.B. Umar — who would man each of the senatorial districts in the state.

    Joshak said they have contacted security details of Governor Fayose and the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and other top government officials to report at 6 am at the Police headquarters in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday.

    “We won’t allow anybody to go to the polling booth with armed men, because it will be a breach of the Electoral Act.

    “We have contacted them and they have to be here before election commences. This election must not be compromised.

    “They will be documented and whoever defies this will be sanctioned because they have been contacted,” he warned.

  • Ekiti 2018: Fayemi ‘versus’ Oni at the poll, By Ehichioya Ezomon

    Ekiti 2018: Fayemi ‘versus’ Oni at the poll, By Ehichioya Ezomon

    By Ehichioya Ezomon

    Months to the 2018 governorship election in Ekiti, holding this Saturday, July 14, polity watchers had surmised that the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) would have a mountain to climb, to regain control of the state it lost in 2014.

    That conclusion was based on the seeming stranglehold of the political terrain by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as powered by Governor Ayodele Fayose, on whose watch the party has swept all seats in elections conducted since 2015.

    But the relaunch bid by the APC for the state, fielding former governor and Minister of Solid Minerals and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, gave strong indications that the PDP and Fayose’s suzerainty might not be impregnable after all.

    This notion was premised on two reasons: One, the political environment of 2018 is different from 2014’s, which favoured Fayose with the so-called “federal might” to advance his cause and that of the PDP, against the then Governor Fayemi and the APC.

    This time, besides having the “federal might” on their side, Fayemi and the APC have the backing of incumbent governors in 24 states, and a coalition of 32 aspirants that vied with Fayemi at the party primaries on May 12.

    With a combination of these factors, and a well-executed campaign spearheaded by a committee of APC heavyweights from across the country, the party would be adequately prepared to climb the mountain, and grab the governorship on July 14.

    That was the assumption until the news broke that the Action Peoples Party (APP), and a chieftain of the APC had separately filed matters in Abuja courts to disqualify Fayemi from presenting himself as the APC candidate in the election.

    The APP filed a suit in a High Court at Bwari, praying for the disqualification of Fayemi for being indicted by a panel of inquiry established by the Ekiti government, which issued a white paper, banning him from holding any public office in 10 years.

    Both Fayemi and the APC had canvassed dismissal of the case, and the court ruled in their favour last Tuesday, July 3. While Justice A.O Musa quashed Fayemi’s indictment for lack of fair hearing, he held that Section 182(1)(i) of the Constitution, on which the suit was based, was non-existent.

    In the second case filed last Monday at the Federal Hight Court in Abuja, Mr. Oladimeji Olakunle Olatunji seeks disqualification of Fayemi on two grounds: That he did not resign his ministerial appointment before contesting the governorship primaries; and that he was indicted by a panel of inquiry, and banned by the Ekiti government from holding any public office in 10 years.

    On the strength of the alleged anomalies, the claimant prays for an order of perpetual injunction, restraining Fayemi from parading or holding himself out as the validly/duly nominated gubernatorial candidate of the APC for the Ekiti election.

    Spotlighting the APP case recently, all eyes were on Governor Fayose as being the instigator, in order to scuttle Fayemi’s chances at the poll. But observers couldn’t imagine that a bigger threat was coming from within, ostensibly at the behest of a co-contestant at the primaries, former Governor Segun Oni.

    As revealed by Mr. Olatunji, he’s in court not only to protect the interest of the APC from being denied a candidate in the election should the opposition raise similar issues, as he did, before or after the election, but also to project the political aspiration of Oni, who came second behind Fayemi at the primaries.

    Oni, former deputy national chairman (South) of the APC, was expected to lead the other 31 aspirants, to work with the 77-member National Campaign Council instituted by the National Working Committee (NWC) for the election. He did not decline this responsibility. Indeed, he asked his supporters to campaign and vote for Fayemi.

    But has he been faithful to his avowal? That’s doubtful, as the director general of the Segun Oni Campaign Organisation (SOGO), Dr. Ife Arowosoge, claimed that the Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation (KFCO) had sidelined Oni, and maltreated his supporters at campaign rallies for the APC flagbearer.

    Arowosoge boasted that Oni has the largest number of APC chieftains, party officials and supporters in the 16 councils of Ekiti, who, in the event of a stalemate from a court ruling or any other circumstance, would be mobilised to place him in good stead to slug it out with other candidates in the current or future election.

    So, the question of why Oni would want Fayemi disqualified has finally been rested. If he’s disenfranchised before the election, or removed after winning, Oni, being the aspirant that scored the second highest votes at the primaries, would profit as a replacement, to stand as the APC candidate in Saturday’s election (if the debarment were to happen prior to the poll) or any new exercise.

    Recall that the courts adopted this precept to sanction the APC’s choice of Mr. Yahaya Bello as candidate, and eventual winner of the Kogi State governorship election in November 2015, following the sudden death of Prince Abubakar Audu, who led in the results already declared by INEC, before his demise was made public.

    Which brings us to where we started: That not long ago, Dr. Fayemi and the APC had only a mountain to climb. That mountain could just have been the Olumo Rock, a mere 137 m (449 ft) above sea level. Now with a divided house, they are facing the highest mountain in the world, the Everest, with a height of 8,848 m (29,029 ft). Will they be able to surmount the snowy peak?

    In a matter of six days, we would know how formidable the APC was battling internal division, and combatting a political opponent as ruthless as Governor Fayose, who, though not on the ballot, has deployed all weapons at his disposal to install his deputy, Prof. Kolapo Olusola.

     

    * Mr. Ezomon, Journalist and Media Consultant, writes from Lagos Nigeria.

  • HBP, salt, sugar increases heart damage risk – Cardiologist

    HBP, salt, sugar increases heart damage risk – Cardiologist

    A Consultant Cardiologist, Prof. Janet Ajuluchukwu, has warned that High Blood Pressure (HBP), high salt diet and increase in blood sugar are major risk factors of heart damage.

    Ajuluchukwu made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.

    She said that HBP wasn’t only a risk factor of heart damage but also a disease on its own.

    “HBP, also called hypertension is a disease on its own; it’s also a risk factor for heart damage.

    “When there’s HBP or hypertension, the heart will enlarge and any enlarged organ is telling you that it is easily damaged.

    “The heart enlarges to do more work.

    “Meanwhile, by enlarging; it also gets into trouble and can get into heart failure,” she said.
    The cardiologist explained that the risk factors for hypertension, including smoking, a high salt diet, herbal medications, obesity and increase in weight could also cause heart damage.

    Ajuluchukwu stressed the need for individuals to avoid foods with high salt content because it could cause a sudden increase in their Blood Pressure (BP).

    “Salt is also a preservative. Tinned foods or foods sold for commercial reasons tend to have a high salt content, so it doesn’t spoil quickly.

    “But that high salt is very injurious to us. Anything that has a lot of salt can make the BP go up,” she warned. The cardiologist said that another major risk factor of heart damage was diabetes. She decried the increase of diabetes which she attributed to be majorly caused by lifestyle choices.

    “Before it was only three per cent some years ago.

    “But now it is getting to nine per cent in the community having diabetes issues due to lifestyle.

    “Lack of exercises, obesity and increase in weight are factors that increase the possibility of HBP as well as diabetes,” she said.

    Ajuluchukwu urged Nigerians to be more physically active, especially at their work places and during their leisure time.

    She advised that people go for regular BP, blood sugar and urine checks.

    NAN reports that the Nigeria Hypertension Society (NHS) said on May 17 that one-third of Nigeria’s adult population is hypertensive.

    The President of the Society, Prof. Ayodele Omotoso, said this on the sideline of the World Hypertension Day.

    Omotoso, lecturer with the Cardiology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), said then the theme of the 2018 World Hypertension Day is:

    “Know Your Numbers”.

    “The meaning of the 2018 theme is simply “know your blood pressure recordings’’.

    Regrettably, the Cardiologist said that only one-third of adult Nigerians, who are hypertensive are aware of their status and just one-third of them are on treatment inspite of availability of potent drugs.

    He said that the purpose of the commemoration was to increase the awareness of high blood pressure around the world.

    “The ultimate target is to encourage citizens of all countries to prevent and control this silent killer, the modern epidemic,’’ Omotoso said.

    He described hypertension as a situation in which there is sustained elevation of blood pressure above a threshold of 140 mmHg systolic and 90 mmHg diastolic in an adult.

    NAN also reports that the expert warned that hypertension only announced its presence in most people after they had suffered a stroke, heart failure, heart attack or kidney failure.
    He explained that the social and economic toll of the complications of hypertension on immediate families and the nation at large was enormous.

  • Ekiti 2018: Fayemi will defeat your ‘apprentice’ without rigging – Oshiomhole tells Fayose

    The National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Adams Oshiomhole, says the party would not allow any form of rigging in the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti State.

    He stated this on Friday in Abuja in reaction to Ekiti Governor, Ayo Fayose’s allegation that the APC had plans to rig the election, using Federal Government might.

    Oshiomohole told newsmen that Fayose should go and learn how to persuade the electorate to get their votes and stop wild allegations.

    He alleged that Fayose got into office through election rigging using the instruments of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), then the party in power, but said that such instrument was no longer at the governor’s disposal.

    According to him, the APC has dismantled the PDP rigging instrument because as democrats, it does not want to copy such act.

    “For us, the PDP rigging machine is not something we want to copy; what we did was to dismantle it.

    “I think what Fayose can complain about is that he was not used to winning an election on the basis of merit; this time, those instruments of rigging are not available to him.

    “Now, he must learn to persuade the people to win election,” Oshiomhole said.

    He maintained that Dr Kayode Fayemi, a former governor of the state and the APC candidate for the election, was tested and trusted and was capable of winning the state for the party.

    “Ekiti people are going to choose between a tested and trusted hand and someone who has done his apprenticeship under a very controversial personality.

    “I believe that people of Ekiti are now very much aware of what the issues are.

    “They will go to make a sensible judgment and we are very certain that it will be in favour of our candidate and our party,” he said.

    Oshiomhole expressed optimism that “God willing and with the support of the people of the state and on the basis of one-man one-vote and free and fair election, APC would emerge victorious at the election.

    He said that Ekiti government had not paid salaries of its workers for months “even though the governor has been collecting Federal Government bailout funds repeatedly for that purpose’’.

  • Ekiti: Court dismisses suit seeking to bar Fayemi

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Bwari, Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking to bar the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Kayode Fayemi from participating in the Ekiti Governorship election.

    Justice O. A. Musa, in a judgment on Tuesday, dismissed the suit by the Action People’s Party (APP) on the ground that it was without merit.

    The plaintiff had argued among others, that Fayemi’s indictment by a commission of inquiry set up by the state government to probe his administration, and the white paper issued by the state based on the indictment, disqualified Fayemi from holding public office by virtue of Section 182(1)(i) of the Constitution.

    Justice Musa quashed Fayemi’s purported indictment by commission of inquiry and the white paper on the grounds that the ‎process leading to the report and white paper was tainted with bias as Fayemi was not accorded fair hearing.

    The judge noted that Section 182(1)(i) of the Constitution, on which the suit was based, was no longer in existence having been deleted by the National Assembly through the first alteration of the Constitution in 2011.

    Justice Musa who who answered the two questions posed by the plaintiff in the negative, refused all its prayers and declared the Fayemi was eligible to contest the next Governorship election and that the APC was at liberty, under the law to field him as its candidate.

  • Ekiti guber: Fayemi has hired INEC officials to manipulate July poll – Fayose

    Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has again raised the alarm that the flag bearer of All Progressive Congress (APC), John Kayode Fayemi has hired four top officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from the headquarters in Abuja, to manipulate the July 14 poll to favour the APC.

    He also alleged that the Federal Government had been delaying allocations to states in the federation because of the July 14 poll in Ekiti, with a view to insigating workers in the state against his government.

    Speaking categorically on a live state Radio and Television broadcast in Ado Ekiti, state capital, on Sarurday night, the governor gave the names of the four INEC officials as Pasca Ukenwa, Deputy Director, ICT, Abdulrasak Agboola, also Deputy Director, ICT, Kenneth Ukeagu, Procurement Officer, and INEC Commissioner, Amina Zakari.

    He said, “I am still raising the alarm again of the plan of three Abuja senior officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); Pasca Ukenwa, Deputy Director, ICT, Abdulrasak Agboola, also Deputy Director, ICT, and Kenneth Ukeagu, Procurement Officer of INEC, they are working with Fayemi in a desperate plan to rig the July 14 governorship poll in Ekiti. Ukaegu is planning to get ballot papers for Fayemi while the ICT directors are planning to reload card readers for Fayemi.

    “Ukeagu is assuring Fayemi that if he can reload the card readers, he would get the ballot papers for them. The three INEC officers are all working with Amina Zakari, another big shot of INEC in Abuja. Zakari was the one Anambra rejected with a claim that she would rig the last Anambra election in the state. Zakari is a professional rigger and I have no apology for that statement.

    “All the APC plans to do is to rig the election but we will reject that. They got into power at the federal level because the process was transparent. I have told INEC not to rig for me because the people of Ekiti are solidly behind our candidate.

    “We know all about the plans of APC and all the movements of everyone working with him to manipulate the electoral process. Part of their plan to stuff their pockets with ballot papers when coming to vote. I urge Ekiti people, don’t go away once you have voted, stay with your votes. They have also brought thugs in all the hotels, but we know where they are and they can’t do anything.”

    “The Federal Government has refused to share the allocation. They decided to delay so that workers in Ekiti would be angry with Fayose. They held a meeting last week Saturday and decided to delay the allocation so that workers won’t get salaries until after July 14 poll. They are owing me two budget support.

    “They delayed the salaries of the workers across the nation because of Ekiti. Is that a government that loves the masses?” The governor also took a critical swipe at Fayemi, alleging that the state has not benefited anything from the ex-minister’s appointment into the federal government cabinet.

    “If Fayemi were to be governor he wouldn’t have been able to fight against Fulani herdsmen in Ekiti the way I had done because he would be afraid of Buhari.

    “Tinubu said Fayemi is Buhari’s friend but is Bubari coming to rule Ekiti? A Buhari’s friend cannot tackle herdsmen menace because Buhari’s himself has failed to deal with the challenge at the national level.

    “For Fayemi to have condemned the success of our students in NECO exams is bad. He said that our children who came tops in exams had had their exam answers bought for them is appalling and an height of reckless statement.

    “Fayemi is coming with bitterness to come and devour and destroy all of you. I know what I am saying. I have served you before and I am still serving you and you can know the difference,” he said.

    Speaking further about the July 14 poll, he said: “The power of the people is greater than those of us in power, peoples’ might is greater than federal might. Anything that does not represent the truth in this poll will fail.

    “The opposition are fighting God and they will fail. We will beat APC 16 :0 again. There will be a mother of all rallies on Thursday, July, 5 where the PDP flag will be given to our candidate, Olusola Kolapo Eleka. There will also be victory walk where all of us will wear white, and walk through the state capital praising God and thanking him for victory over our enemies.”

  • Ekiti 2018: Lies won’t save you from defeat – Fayemi tells Fayose

    Ekiti 2018: Lies won’t save you from defeat – Fayemi tells Fayose

    The Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation has accused Governor Ayodele Fayose of spreading “irresponsible lies”, saying that lies will not save the governor and his candidate, Prof Olusola Eleka, from defeat in the July 14 governorship poll.

    Fayose had at the weekend on the state radio accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr Kayode Fayemi, of planning to compromise INEC in the July 14 poll, saying also that Fayemi planned to ban okada operations and sack workers through competency tests if he wins the governorship election.

    But reacting on Sunday, Director of Media and Publicity of the Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation, Wole Olujobi, said Fayose’s lies will not save him from defeat, as “Ekiti people were done with a fraudulent and callous administration that manipulates the people always for selfish motives”.

    He said: “Fayose is haunted by his past when he criminally manipulated INEC to win 2014 election as revealed in Captain Sagir Koli audio tape where Fayose himself was heard talking about how he collected INEC sensitive materials he said he printing, including talking about how the results of the election of June 21 was collated in Efon-Alaaye on June 19, two days before the election and as was corroborated by PDP State Secretary, Tope Aluko, in his testimony to the security agencies.

    “Fayemi never plans to sack okada operators as he always insists, instead, he will strengthen their operations like he once did when he bought over 150 motorcycles and helmets for Okada Association Cooperative Society to improve their living conditions.

    “Instead of sacking workers, Fayemi during his campaign visits in the last two weeks always insisted that he will never sack workers, instead, he will develop a policy that will encourage job creation as one of the cardinal programmes of his Eight-point Agenda.”

    Olujobi berated Fayose for always employing lies to achieve the “ignoble objective of robbing Ekiti people all the time and at all times”.

    Describing the governor as a man in need of salvation from leading a life of lies, Fayemi’s spokesman explained: “The only thing that Nigerians and indeed peoples of the world must believe in Fayose is when they see him breathing, which is the evidence that he is still living; everything else is fake and lies.

    “Fayose’s show of shame as a pathological liar at the Ado Ekiti High Court hearing of a libel suit he filed against Femi Falana (SAN) and TheNews magazine in 2006 over alleged defamation of character typifies the life of lies he leads.

    “In the open court during cross-examination, Fayose recklessly lied and lied so much that the presiding Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, who is now the Chief Judge of the state, and all the counsel in the court, including Fayose’s lawyers, were watching and shaking their heads in disbelief as Fayose lied and lied so much that he was also contradicting himself.

    “During judgement, Justice Daramola told Fayose that he was an incorrigible liar, as he was found to be lying throughout the cross-examination, and consequently, the judge dismissed the case, telling Fayose that he had no integrity to protect.

    “Fayose, about 60 years old and grandfather, lied for more than a year denying that he ever collected N2b Ecological Fund and monthly N1.3b Budget Support Facility for 13 months.

    “In the case of the N2b ecological fund, Fayose never owned up collecting the money until he got information that APC planned to approach the Ecological Fund office in Abuja for confirmation.

    “The same week he owned up, he announced Ecological project contract totalling exactly N2b, even though up till now, there is no evidence of ecological project anywhere in the state, as floods ravaged the state early in April.

    “As for the budget support fund he collected to pay workers salary, for long, Fayose denied collecting the facility until the Federal Government published the figures, the same way he denied borrowing one naira until DMO published the states’ debts showing that Fayose had borrowed N56b between 2014 and 2018.

    “Unfortunately, this is the man Ekiti people are doomed to have as their governor and who Nigerians and other peoples of the world read in the news as leading Ekiti people renowned for integrity, learning and honour.”

    Describing Fayose as the Pharaoh in the life of Ekiti people, Olujobi said Ekiti people were set to return from Egypt, “and there is no amount of lies that will make them vote for Prof Olusola Eleka who the governor is propping to sustain his continuity agenda for mass poverty while Fayose and his family enjoy the life of bliss”.