On Saturday April 2, 2022, former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Peter Fayose openly endorsed the candidature of his former Deputy, Professor Olusola Eleka and Hon. Segun Adekola, a former Member of the House of Representatives for the Senatorial Seats of Ekiti South District, and a return to the Lower Chamber of the National Assembly respectively.
This action has sparked outrage from a section of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the State. They criticized Fayose for fanning the embers of discord and working for the failure of the PDP in the State as the Governorship election and the 2023 General Election draw closer.
Party Members in Ekiti South Federal constituency 1 comprising Ikere, Ise, Orun and Ekiti South condemned the endorsement of Eleka and Adekola, saying such step would make the party fail at the poll.
At a townhall meeting with PDP members in Ise/Orun on Saturday, Fayose had endorsed the aspirations of former Deputy Governor, Eleka for Senate, Ekiti South district and Adekola, a former member of the House of Representatives for House of Representatives.
However, the ex-governor’s announcement was met with stiff resistance from party members from Ikere and Ise/Orun who shouted, “give us Henrich (Akomolafe), We want Henrich. Stop the imposition, Don’t kill PDP.”
Some of the protesters who spoke to newsmen said that while they respect the ex- governor’s decision to endorse candidates, his choices over time had further worsened the party’s chances at the polls rather than strengthen it.
The people’s choice, Henrich Akomolafe, speaking to the media said he remains “unfazed” but advised ex-governor Fayose who he referred to as his father against working against the “will of the people and further worsening the party’s chances because of pecuniary interests.’’
“H.E., Fayose, is my father and leader but as much as I respect him, he needs to understand that the days of amala politics when you write a list of candidates is over. If PDP is preaching a new brand of politics and enshrining democracy, then, he needs to lead by example by allowing free, fair and transparent delegate elections to pick a candidate for the election.
“He cannot impose any candidate on the people”, Akomolafe says.
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