Ekiti PDP Congress: Party Elders Endorse Fayose’s Candidate

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) elders and stakeholders in Ekiti State, at the weekend, endorsed former Governor Ayo Fayose’s anointed candidate, Bisi Kolawole, for the forthcoming party’s congress.
Kolawole, who was Commissioner for Environment during Fayose’s administration, is vying for the party’s chairmanship.
The elders announced him as their preferred candidate to replace Gboyega Oguntuase at the party’s congress slated for April 2, 2020.
Former publicity secretary of the party, Tope Aluko, who is also contesting, said he would have to be convinced beyond reasonable doubts on the choice of a consensus candidate before he surrenders.
Besides, the elders also endorsed the candidature of Joseph Omolase as the preferred secretary.
The State Working Committee (SWC) had earlier dissociated itself from a move by the elders and stakeholders, allegedly led by the former governor, to impose a consensus candidate ahead of the primary.
However, Idowu Odeyemi from the party’s South West caucus, at the weekend, said the decision to endorse Kolawole was taken after consultation across the length and breath of the state.
Odeyemi said: “We have to say, however, that this endorsement by the elders does not foreclose the right to participate, which means the race is still open.
“We have only expressed our right to endorse our preferred candidate, which means other groups can also endorse their own as well.
“We will meet them at the congress. We are not imposing candidate, we have only expressed our right. The party is one and after the congress we shall remain one.”
In his reaction while fielding questions from newsmen, Fayose said he openly supported Kolawole who has been endorsed by the elders to move the party forward.
“We are not doing this to score any point, we are only looking for somebody who can manage our party vis-a-vis the fact that we don’t have a sitting governor.
“By the grace of God, I am the only person that has served as governor that is still in this party. I am the only two-term governor still in this party. It would amount to evil for any one to wish me away.