By Raphael Ogbonnaiye, Ado-Ekiti
Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lawmakers in Ekiti State House of Assembly have thrown their weight behind the YinkaAkerele-led faction of Presidential Campaign Council, describing it as the authentic body.
The lawmakers, in a letter to PDP National Chairman, Prince UcheSecondus, dated January 8, made available to journalists in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday, entitled: “We dissociate ourselves from the list generated by ex-governor Ayo Fayose,” said: “We stand by the authentic list duly signed and published by the PDP nominated and accepted Director-General, DG, OtunbaYinkaAkerele. Anything short of this will again spell doom for the fortune of our party in the forthcoming election.
Led by the Deputy Speaker, OlusegunAdewumi, the 12 PDP lawmakers who signed the letter, said: “For the avoidance of any doubt, we the undersigned are the only remaining structure of PDP in Ekiti State and abhor any arrangement that will relegate us to the background in the scheme of political activities in Ekiti State.
Senate Minority Leader BiodunOlujimi had on Monday faulted composition of the campaign council published by pro-Fayose group, saying it was at variance with what was agreed at PDP meeting, hence her rejection of the council.
Consequently, parallel Atiku campaign councils were inaugurated in Ekiti State on Tuesday. While the pro-Fayose group had Chief DipoAnisulowo as DG, the pro-Olujimi group had YinkaAkerele as DG. The PDP lawmakers stated that the list of pro-Fayose council “does not represent the general wish of PDP in Ekiti state and as well does not reflect the template authorised by the National Executive Committee of our great party as adopted by the other state chapters of PDP in the South West and Nigeria.
“It should be noted that Ekiti State has earlier generated a list and sent to your good office which was generally acceptable to the party in Ekiti state whereby all leaders and stakeholder’s interests were accommodated. We stand by that list.
“We state with all sense of responsibility that ex-Governor Fayose cannot deliver victory for us in PDP in Ekiti State. That was exactly what he did prior to the governorship election which cost our party the desired victory.
“Once beaten is twice shy. We must be wary of continued failure when God Himself has given us victory. Ayo Fayose is still promoting and projecting his personal selfish agenda in Ekiti State which is an ill-wind that will blow us no good in the end. A word is enough for us the wise,” they said.
The PDP lawmakers are Adewunmi, OmodaraOlaposi, BadejoAnifowose, Musa Arogundade, OlayodeOmotosho, TitilayoAkerele, Cecilia Dada, AfolabiAkanni, Ojo-Ade Fajana, OlayanjuOlanrewaju, AdewaleAyeni and TemitopeFasanmi.
