Ekiti 2022: Ajijola beats ex-Deputy Governor, other to emerge PDP Repositioning Group candidate, Olujimi boycott

Ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary in Ekiti State, the Olujimi faction otherwise known as the Repositioning Group has elected, Lateef Ajijola as the group candidate for the party primary.

Ajijola, a Lagos-based businessman and senatorial aspirant of the party in 2014, in the group’s mini primary held at Ajaleye Events Centre, Polytechnic Road, Ado Ekiti, the state capital on Friday, defeated two other top contestants to emerge the winner.

In the keenly contested poll, the Ado Ekiti born politician polled 50 votes.

Another aspirant Otunba Yinka Akerele scored 26 votes, while a former deputy governor of the state, Dr Sikiru Tai Lawal scored 4 votes.

Speaking with journalists shortly after the exercise, Ajijola said the party will seek an amicable resolution of zoning agitation and allow the best aspirant to emerge as the flag bearer of the party.

According to him, “Well, It is still an agitation, politics is about conflict resolution, it’s about jaw, jaw, and jaw. We will still have a round table talk over so many issues. The election of today is about a particular group, there are quite a number of groups within the rank and files of the PDP, I’m not against any candidate coming out, but the truth of the matter is that majority will still carry the day. So, we are going to talk, they are our brothers, we are of the same family, I believe God will choose for us the next Governor of Ekiti State, and I pray it’s me”.

The aspirant while speaking on the contest held alongside other aspirants within his PDP Repositioning Group asked the aspirants to be courageous not be deterred in fighting the opposition tooth and nail during the next governorship primary election of the PDP.

Meanwhile, a lawmaker representing Ekiti South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Biodun Olujimi, boycotted the shadow primary in the group.

Olujimi, who is a ring leader of the Repositioning Group against the mini primary conducted on Friday.

The lawmaker is hopeful to contest the governorship position fighting the agitation for power shift to the south zone.

The former minority leader of the senate said the mini primary was against the interest and agitations of Ekiti South to produce a PDP guber candidate.

Politics Update: I knew a particular governor who is the owner of PDP will remove Secondus – Gov Umahi

Recall that there were two major factions of the party in the state, Ayo Fayose group otherwise known as Osoko People’s Assembly (OPA) and a serving senator, Biodun Olujimi group named as Repositioning Group.

Although the third faction is of the former governor of the state, Segun Oni and his followers returned to the PDP from APC last year.

In February, the Fayose group had endorsed Bisi Kolawole, the current chairman of PDP in the state as his preferred candidate and had unveiled in May, to his supporters in all wards in the state.

The ring leader of the group, Ayo Fayose, former governor of the state described Kolawole as a bridge-builder, who can usher in a better future for Ekiti and the party, commended two former House of Representatives members, Hons Ayodeji Oladimeji and Segun Adekola for stepping down for Kolawole to allow peace to reign, saying “this was a mark of respect for my leadership.”

The choice of Kolawole endorsed by Fayose polarised his political platform, Osoko People’s Assembly (OPA) where two aspirants who are in the camp, his deputy during the second term, Kolapo Olusola Eleka and Wale Aribisala put out from the group.

Recall that, Newsflash Nigeria had earlier reported that the PDP had fixed January 28, 2022, for the party’s primary.

The PDP timetable outlined the schedule of activities in the build-up to the Party primary election, starting from the publishing of the Notice of Party Election/Congresses to the State chapter on September 1, 2021.

The date for the aspirants to obtain the Sales of Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms is from Monday, September 13 to Thursday, September 30, 2021, with Tuesday, October 5, 2021, as the last date for the submission of forms

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the party also fixed the Screening of Aspirants for Monday, October 11, 2021. Appeals on the screening exercise are also scheduled for Thursday, October 25, 2021.

Consequently, the PDP congresses to elect the 3-man Adhoc Ward Delegates has been scheduled to hold from Friday, January 7 to Saturday, January 8, 2022.

Local Government Congresses to elect one National Delegates as well as one person living with disability from each local government area in the state have been scheduled to hold on Saturday, January 15, 2022.

Meanwhile, Ajijola of Repositioning Group will be facing Fayose’s candidate, Bisi Kolawole, Ex-governor Segun Oni, Ex-deputy governor, Professor Kolapo Olusola, Serving Senator, Biodun Olujimi, Serving National Treasure of the party, Hon Adewale Aribisala and others.

Newsflash Nigeria is an online newspaper that is developed and written exclusively for Nigerians. It’s packed with up-to-the-minute Local and National Economy News, Share & Capital Market, Health, Sports, Education, Technology, Business and Opinions.

To make further advert enquiries or place an order, please contact us at [email protected] and +2348053316946 and WhatsApp number 08033546732