Politics: Tension as Senator Olujimi, Ayo Fayose inaugurate parallel PDP ward executives in Ekiti

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The gulf within the Ekiti State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State widened on Thursday as the former governor Ayodele Fayose and Senator Biodun Olujimi inaugurated parallel ward executives.

The duo had been at loggerheads with each other over the leadership of the Ekiti PDP which has for some time polarised the party into two dominant factions.

Fayose and Olujimi saw the emergence of the new party officials at the ward level an opportunity to capture the party machinery ahead of the 2022 gubernatorial election in the state.

While the Fayose-led PDP on Thursday inaugurated members of the PDP ward EXCO in 155 out of the 177 wards in Ekiti State with the swearing-in supervised by a notary public, Niyi Idowu, the Senator Biodun Olujimi-led group inaugurated its parallel ward excos on Friday in the presence of party elders.

The Fayose group predicated its action on a letter dated April 25 from the National Working Committee addressed to the state PDP Chairman, Chief Gboyega Oguntuwase to inaugurate the new executive officers as stipulated the in the provisions of Section 65 of the party’s legal framework.

The NWC said the list sent was the approved authentic list for 155 out of the 177 wards after careful consideration of the report of the Electoral Committee and the Appeal Panel.

The PDP state Chairman, Oguntuase, refuse to conduct the inauguration excercise, claiming no directives were given to him from the party’s National Secretariat.

But the inauguration was supervised by the State party legal Adviser, Niyi Idowu allegedly on the instruction of Fayose.

Fayose’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, said the inauguration was constitutional in its measure, claiming the directive followed the NWC approval of the ward congresses held in the state.

He said the new party officers had assumed office for a tenure of four years in accordance with the party’s constitution.


Oguntuase who rejected the swearing-in of the factional ward excos, described the entire process as unconstitutional and a dubious political game targeted at destabilizing PDP in the state.

He said apart from the fact that the matter was pending in court, “the purported swearing-in was done during the pendency of the outgoing ward executives of the party”.

Oguntuwase, who appealed for calm “until by constitutional means, everything is resolved”, said, “The notary public contracted to do the swearing-in is not known to the party as I did not mandate anybody to get him to work for us.

“I wish to state that up till today, I have not received any letter from anywhere directing me to do any swearing-in for anybody. Even if I receive one now, the directive of the dejure governor of the state concerning social distancing will impede any gathering and swearing-in,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Ekiti PDP Repositioning Movement has rejected the purported inauguration of the ward executives loyal to ex-governor Fayose and associated itself with Olujimi’s camp.

The group, in a statement signed by its chairman, Engr. Alaba Agboola, said the purported inauguration was a desperate antics by some ‘chameleonic elements’ to forcefully hijack the party structure for their predetermined interest.

It stated that the purported swearing-in was an abberation that does not has basis in the law, adding the excercise flagrantly negated the provisions of the party’s constitution.

The group argued that it is only the state organ of the party that can inaugurate its local chapter not an obscure individual, stressing that the ward executives purpotedly inaugurated were not the true representation of the congress.

It said the authentic ward party officials were the ones whose congress results were duly signed by the PDP, INEC officials and security operatives.

The group advised new members of executives at the ward level to eschew divisive tendencies and and embark on aggressive mobilization of various factions to build a united and cohesive PDP in the state.

Politics: Ijaw leaders mount pressure on Dickson to join senatorial contest

Prominent Ijaw leaders have mounted pressure  on a former Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, to join the race for the Bayelsa West Senatorial bye-election.

Over 15 famous leaders, who once occupied top positions in Ijaw struggle such as Dr. Felix Tuodolo, Asari- Dokubo, Frank Omare, Udengs Eradiri, Frank Omare, Alfred Kemepado,  Mr Oyinfie Jonjon among others met and said only Dickson possessed the qualities to speak for the Ijaw at the Senate.

The leaders in a communiqué issued after their meeting said Dickson’s contributions to the advancement of Ijaw development distinguished him from others.

They urged the people of Sagbama and Ekeremor to see the candidature of Dickson beyond party lines but a further call to duty in the service of the Ijaw project.

They said in the communiqué: “That in view of the above mentioned realities, it is hereby resolved that all patriotic sons and daughters of Ijaw Nation should persuade and support the His Excellency, Hon. H.S Dickson who has been a pillar of support to all Ijaw people irrespective of our artificial boundaries.

“And that this decision is unbiased and springs from the above expectations and his overwhelming performance as a former member of the House of Representatives for five years and a Governor who served our people for eight years which has given him the much needed requisite experience.

We therefore call on His Excellency, Hon. HSD to contest the senatorial election while appealing to all Ijaw patriots to stand with His Excellency Hon Seriake Dickson and elect him to the senate to continue to fly the Ijaw flag.”