Ahead of the 2023 general elections, members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti South federal constituency one at the weekend protested against the alleged moves by the former governor of the state, Ayodele Fayose to impose the party’s House of Representatives candidate on the constituency.
The members alleged that the former governor has concluded plans to impose former members of the house of representatives, Segun Adekola for the federal constituency, compromising Ikere, Ise/Orun and Ekiti South-West local government areas.
The spokesman of the protesting party members, Kola Adewole noted that the former governor on Saturday in Ise/Orun endorsed the ambition of Adekola, which he said would not augur well for the party ahead of the election.
He explained that while they respect the ex- governor’s decision to endorse candidates, “his choices over time had further worsened the party’s chances at the polls rather than strengthen it.”
They said they would rather subject the choice of candidate of the party to a credible delegate election, between Adekola and Henrich Akomolafe from Ikere-Ekiti.
He said, “For instance, When former governor Ayodele Fayose went to back Bisi Kolawole, Kolawole won the primaries through rigging and you can see how we are losing supporters on a daily basis.
“Now, we are saying we want a youth, fresh blood who has credibility and a track record in Akomolafe but again our leader (Fayose) has opted for a political lightweight who lost heavily as a sitting member in 2019. We would not take it.”
But Fayose who denied the allegation of imposition said it is within his right to have a preference among the aspirants and that the decision did not foreclose the ambition of others ahead of the primaries.
When contacted, Akomolafe said, “he remains ‘unfazed’ but advised ex-governor Fayose who he referred to as his father against working against the will of the people and further worsening the party’s chances because of pecuniary interests.”