The Deputy Governor of Ekiti state, Prof Kolapo Olusola Eleka has been picked by Governor Ago Fayose as the anointed and preferred candidate of the PDP in the next year gubernatorial election .
Reliable sources at the Ekiti Government house confirmed that governor Fayose eventually settled for his deputy after receiving a field report that Mr Kayode Oso may not be sellable during the general election.
According to one of the sources, the governor had allegedly briefed prominent indigenes of Ado Ekiti including a Legal Icon and a revered traditional ruler in meeting that lasted for hours last night.
The source further disclosed that the governor has called all relevant stakeholders of the party to a meeting today to intimate them of his decision to endorse Prof Olusola.
Adoption of the deputy governor, who is a professor of Building Technology from the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, Osun State, was the major decision reached at the party’s stakeholders
meeting in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday.
The meeting was attended by 177 councillors, 177 ward chairpersons, 16 Local Government party chairpersons, 16 Local Council chairpersons, Chairpersons and members of boards and parastatals, State Executive Council, Ekiti State House of Assembly members, serving and former members of the PDP State Working Committee, former Deputy Governor, among others.
The communique issued at the end of the meeting reads; “After due consultation, without prejudice to the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), we formally endorse His Excellency, Prof Kolapo Olusola (the current deputy governor), from Ekiti South Senatorial District, as our preferred aspirant/candidate.”Those who signed the communique are: Anifowose Mustapha, for councillors, Amuda Sunmonu, for ward chairpersons; Femi Bamisile, for Local Government party chairpersons; Dapo Olagunju, for Local Government chairpersons (ALGON); Bode Ola, for chairmen of boards and parastatals; Modupe Alade (Secretary to the State Government), for State Executive Council; Kolawole Oluwawole,
Speaker of the State House of Assembly and the State Chairman of the party, Gboyega Oguntuase.
Speaking with journalists after the adoption, Mr. Oguntuase said the party organs will abide by the decision taken by the stakeholders in the overall interest of the party and the entire people of Ekiti State.
He, however, said that the adoption will not preclude any member of the party that is interested in the governorship ticket from contesting, adding that open and transparent primary election will be held in
accordance with the rules of the party.
The Chairman of Forum of Ward Chairpersons, Amuda Sunmonu, also hailed the decision to adopt Mr. Olusola, maintaining that “Wherever Governor Fayose goes, we will follow him.”
Also speaking on behalf of local council councillors, Anifowose Mustapha said all the 177 councillors in the state were solidly behind the governor and “the decision of the party’s stakeholders remained binding on all of us.”
The Secretary to the State Government, Modupe Alade, described the deputy governor as a competent and loyal member of the Governor Ayodele Fayose political family, adding that his adoption was a reward for loyalty, dedication and commitment.
Meanwhile, there is wild jubilation in Ikere, hometown of the deputy governor as news filtered in of his adoption.
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