Ekiti 2018: PDP suffers setback as violence, malpractices mar ward congress
- The Ekiti PDP special ward congress conducted during the weekend was reportedly marred by violence
- Governor Fayose was accused of hijacking the congress
- One of the gubernatorial aspirants, Prince Adeyeye, called for cancellation of the election
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) special ward congress to elect delegates to vote at the governorship primary which was conducted in Ekiti state on Saturday, April 21, was marred by violence and malpractices.
Vanguard reports that some hoodlums allegedly beat up former Ikere local government chairman, Banji Aluko.
Legit.ng gathered that Aluko was accused of working against “Ikere Agenda” by the thugs who reportedly flogged him with canes and sticks that were loaded inside a mini bus parked opposite the election venue at Odo Oja area of the town.
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The hoodlums accused Aluko of working for another governorship aspirant and former minister of state for works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye.
Recall that Governor Ayo Fayose has adopted Kolapo Olusola, his deputy, as his preferred candidate ahead of the July 14 governorship poll.
Aluko, who was also accused of conniving with Mega Party of Nigeria (MPN), allegedly tore result sheet from Ogbonjana ward believed to have been manipulated, which angered his attackers.
Aluko was subsequently drenched with alcohol as he was forced out of the election venue.
The ex-council boss later led a group of youth to the secretariat of the party to register his protest but was also allegedly harassed by party members and those following him were beaten with cudgels.
Prince Adeyeye , one of the governorship aspirants, also condemned the exercise.
He alleged that the congress was hijacked by Fayose’s agents working in collaboration with the electoral panel deployed from the PDP national secretariat.
Speaking through the Director of Publicity of Prince Adedayo Adeyeye Movement (PAAM), Chief Niyi Ojo, Adeyeye alleged that the election materials were not taken to the wards for the purpose of the election.
He said: “All over the state, Fayose’s men hijacked the process, they didn’t take the materials to the wards to allow people vote.
“This delegates election should be cancelled, the people deployed from Abuja did not go to the wards, they sat somewhere in the party secretariat.
“It should be cancelled because they are forcing results which do not represent the wishes of party members on them.”
The other two PDP governorship aspirants are Adeyeye and Senate Deputy Minority Whip, Senator Biodun Olujimi.
However, reports from other wards suggested that the congress was appreciably peaceful across the state.
A top management staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) who monitored the exercise said disagreements were resolved amicably.
The source said:“The exercise is largely peaceful, though there were disagreements in some areas, but stakeholders later met and resolved them. So, from our own point of view, the exercise has been largely successful.”
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Legit.ng previously reported that four PDP governorship aspirants in Ekiti state warned that the party may lose Ekiti state during the coming governorship election if the incumbent governor, Fayose, is not cautioned by the party leadership.
They also called on the national leadership of the party to disqualify Fayose from playing any role in the primary election scheduled for April.
They said the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Prince Uche Secondus should disqualify Fayose having adopted his deputy, Olusola, which they said amounted to the imposition on party leaders and members.
Governor Fayose warns Nigerian youths ahead of 2019, tells them what to do - on Legit.ng TV
Source: Legit.ng
