Ekiti 2022: Group Alleges Fayose Plotting PDP Defeat, Negotiates With EFCC Case

By Ayodele Oni

As registered political parties prepare for their primaries to pick flagbearers for the June Governorship election in Ekiti State, the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), in the State is worried by the newly found love between Governor Kayode Fayemi and former Governor Ayo Fayose.

Stakeholders of the PDP noted that the bond between the incumbent and the former Governor is nothing but a ploy by Fayose to trade off the chances of the party in the June Governorship poll.

Of recent, Governor Fayemi was the Groom’s father at  Fayose’s son’s wedding in Lagos while the former Governor’s hotel located at Fajuyi area of Ado Ekiti has become Fayemi’s second home.

The hotel, which was built on Government owned land, during Fayose’s tenure as Governor, had earlier been sealed by the Economic, Financial and Crimes Commission, (EFCC).

Some concerned PDP members have written to the Leadership of PDP stating:  “We, as members of the Ekiti Concerns can no longer fold our arms and watch Ekiti State dragged into the mud by selfish politicians.

The letter, signed by Mr Wole Awoniyi stated that: “The time for another Governorship election is here again and the preparation is on hand.This is what we know so far.

“Because of the loss of the election of 2018 as an incumbent governor, Ayodele Fayose, wanted to win in 2022.

“He called a meeting of some of us where he commissioned  us to go out and research what we can do for PDP to win in 2022.

“Our findings revealed the only thing we can do is to pick Segun Oni as our Governorship candidate.

“He accepted the report and sent us, including Mr. Bisi Kolawole,  as delegations to Chief Segun Oni to convince him to come back to PDP to contest the election.

“Kolawole was included because Fayose knew that he was close to Segun Oni as a member of the former Segun Oni Campaign Organization (SOCO).

“With his self-caused loss of the Governorship election of 2018, he wanted to make amends.

“We held up to three meetings with Segun Oni and his top aides before he eventually agreed and met with Fayose.

“As usual with Fayose, he suddenly changed his mind and decided to drag Bisi Kolawole into the race as his choice for Governor.

“His reasons included these facts: Bisi Kolawole was a close ally of Segun Oni who belonged to his Campaign Organization, SOCO, and would, therefore, divide and weaken Segun Oni group.

“Segun Oni is older and more disciplined and transparent than him and wouldn’t be easily manipulated as Governor by Fayose, and he will have across State and party support beyond Fayose’s control, which Fayose doesn’t want.

“Now with Segun Oni entrenched in the party and Ekiti state politics, Fayose has visibly been shaken and fearful that Segun Oni will win and take over the structure and Leadership of the PDP from him and he will become the loser.

“He’s now planning to sabotage not only Segun Oni’s victory, but the PDP chances of winning, by conniving with APC to defeat the PDP after which he will still be recognized as the leader of the defeated PDP in the state after.

“A huge sum of money running into billions and the settlement of his case with the EFCC has been the bargaining tool for this. Several meetings have been going on between Fayose and Fayemi for this.

“There are two ways for Fayose. One of the tricks is to win the primary election for Bisi Kolawole his stooge, at all costs, by buying the delegates with thousands of Naira with Okada each and later give the election away to Fayemi’s APC candidate.

“Everybody in Ekiti knows if Segun Oni faces any APC candidate in the general election, that is the end of APC.

“Fayemi has also promised to throw away the Fayose’s case with the EFCC running into over an N14billion corruption charges.

“The weight of the possibility of Fayose working for the APC government can’t be thrown to the winds as there is prima facie evidence of such collaboration and anti-party activities.

“Mr Chairman, PDP and the National Working Committee, should please save Ekiti State people and the PDP. For almost four years now, Ekiti people have been suffering and waiting for a change.”

Fayose has, yet, to react to the allegation of sabotage against him.