Ekiti PDP Breaks; Two Parallel Exco Emerge |The Source

By Ayodele Oni

Even after the National Leadership of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) imposed a Caretaker Committee on the Ekiti state PDP, there seems to be no end to the internal crisis rocking the party.

The two arrow heads of the crisis, former Governor Ayo Fayose and Senator Abiodun Olujimi, are yet to sheath their swords as both lay claim to the control of the soul of the party.

The crisis became more glaring at the weekend following the emergence of two parallel state Executive  Council of the party.

Two separate congresses were held at different locations  by the Fayose and Olujimi factions to elect the officers.

At one of the delegates’ Congress held in Ado-Ekiti, the group loyal to Fayose elected Chief Bisi Kolawole, a former Commissioner as the new Chairman of the PDP with a total vote of 1651.

In his acceptance speech, Chief Kolawole said the election of the State Executive was the beginning of a new dawn in the party, with a promise to promote unity among members and bring development to the party.

Former Governor, Chief Segun Oni,  who returned to the party recently after losing out in the APC primary, urged PDP members in the state to come together and champion the course of the party.

Also, former Governor Ayodele Fayose said the party would re-strategize to gain its rightful position in the state and charged the new executive to let the interest of the party be paramount in their hearts.

The Chairman, Electoral Committee from Abuja, Mr. Ayuba Balogun commended PDP in Ekiti for the conduct of the delegates Congress.

Similarly, a former commissioner for Agriculture in the state, Mr Kehinde Odebunmi emerged the state chairman of the PDP in another congress held by thr Senator-Olujimi faction, also  in Ado Ekiti.

In his acceptance speech, Mr Odebunmi promised to reconcile all aggrieved members with a view to moving the party forward.

The immediate past state chairman of the party, Mr Gboyega Oguntuase, urged the new Executive led by Mr Odebunmi to bring all the party members together under one umbrella.

The immediate past chairman has handed the machinery of the party to Odebunmi, who emerged from Olujimi group.

Fayose is a former Governor of the State. Incidentally, Olujimi, who  is now a second term Senator, was Fayose’s Deputy in his first tenure as a Governor.

When he was impeached in a process, allegedly, triggered  by former President Obasanjo, Olujimi, allegedly, refused to  betray him by stepping into his shoes as Governor.  She was, thus, also removed from office.

Fayose stormed back into office for a second term when he defeated the then incumbent Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, thus denying him a second term.

But Fayemi is now enjoying his second term, after  he defeated Fayose’s prefered successor.

Since Fayose’s impeachment during his first term in office, he has missed no opportunity at hitting Obasanjo hard.