Betrayal; How Fmr Gov Fayose Forced His Fmr Deputy, Prof Eleka Out Of Ekiti South Senatorial Race

By Ayodele Oni

Sensing betrayal and possible sell out on the part of some leaders, former Deputy Governor of Ekiti state, Prof Olusola Eleka, has pulled out of the Senatorial contest.

Eleka, who was Deputy to former Governor Ayo Fayose, had been hand-picked by his former boss as a candidate for Ekiti South Senatorial district in the forthcoming election.

He was among those that contested in the Governorship primary of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) early this year but placed third.

In a letter to the National Leadership of the PDP, Eleka, however pledged to remain a loyal and committed member of the PDP.

The former Deputy Governor wrote: “I wish to notify the National Leadership of our esteemed party of my voluntary withdrawal from participating in the forthcoming People’s Democratic Party Senatorial contest in Ekiti State.

“Your Excellency will recall that I contested for the last Governorship primary election in which I came third.

“As a patriotic party man who is determined to protect the interest and ethos of the party, I congratulated the winner, Otunba Bisi Kolawole who is currently the candidate of the party.

“It is expedient to note, however, that the Senatorial ambition was the making of former Governor Ayodele Fayose.

“I received emissaries from him to contest. After much pressure from concerned stakeholders, I decided to pick up the challenge to represent the party in my senatorial district.

“To my great surprise, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, who openly endorsed my candidacy for senate in my town, discretely aided another person from the same constituency to pick the same Senatorial form.

“The above left me with no choice but to consider his endorsement as a facade and decoy.

“Having consulted widely on the foregoing with my teeming supporters across the sixteen (16) Local Governments, I have decided not to dwell where there is no sincerity of purpose but an arrogant display of deception and hence, pull out from the contest.

“The integrity I have built over the years is beyond any ambition. I am available for further arrangements that will unite the party in the build-up to the general election, slated to hold on 18th June 2022.

“Your Excellency is hereby assured of my utmost commitment to the party at the state and beyond.”