Who Leads PDP In Ekiti State?

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Gani Salau

The People's Democratic Party (PDP), a major political party in Nigeria was once calling the shots at Oke bareke, the government house of Ekiti State right away from 2003 when a non political figure in the agrarian state emerged as the Governor of the state as against what a section of the polity, Alliance for Democracy termed as progressive, up till 2010 when the incumbent Governor, Kayode Fayemi got his mandate through a judicial pronouncement at the court of Appeal, Ilorin from Engineer Segun Oni.


Though, the PDP came back to power again in 2014 when Ayo Fayose won the gubernatorial election from Kayode Fayemi..
Twenty three years since the creation of Ekiti state in October 1, 1996 it seems to be a dicey situation now. No particular leader can be attributed to the party that produced two governors, one with two terms and the other, almost a term  since it lost to the All Progressive Congress in the last gubernatorial election that produced Dr Kayode Fayemi as the governor of the state the second time.


Though, the state executive of the PDP seems intact under the chairmanship of Barrister Gboyega Oguntuase who drives the party since last year October when the former governor of the state, Ayo Fayose completed his second term in office.


    It is however expected  that after the losss of an election in any political development, various caucuses and camps normally spring up either to exposition or to keep the going goes.

 Immediately after the PDP lost the 2014 gubernatorial election in Ekiti state to APC, party members continue to trade words, accusations and counter accusations, shifting blame on each other without a clear cut directive on how to forget the past and forge ahead to move forward.


    In the build up to the 2019 National Assembly elections, the former Deputy Chief Whip, senator Biodun Olujimi announced her leadership of the party in the state bearing in mind the risk involved as a senatorial candidate of the party. Her group within the party applauded her decision despite the preparation for the National Assembly elections which made Ayo Fayose to openly campaigned against her ambition to stage a come back to the upper chamber. She ofcourse lost her reelection to the Senate which brought a great blow to the party and the struggle for its leadership.


   A large selection of the party believe that the former Governor, Ayo Fayose remains the leader of the party in the state having attained the highest political status in the state under the party. In a stakeholders meeting held in November last year at pastoral garden, along Ado/Ikere road, in attendance were former National Assembly members, former commissioners, some state House of Assembly members, state executive members, past state chairmen of the party in the state and local government and ward executives made a pronouncements through senator Duro Faseyi that Ayo Fayose remains the leader of the party quoting relevant sections of the PDP constitution to buttress his aguement which was applauded by the stakeholders in attendance.


   The presidential election in march this year attested to Ayo Fayose's leadership of the party in the state. The former vice president and presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar was received at the Akure Airport by the leaders of the party led by Faypse playing the leading role at the presidential rally held at Ekiti pavilon, along new Iyin road at the state capital, Ado Ekiti.

There have been various caucuses and meetings after the presidential election in Ekiti state as the party moves towards another congress early next year to actually have the control of the party. Who then is presently leading the party in Ekiti?


    One thing remains sacrosanct . The Ayo Fayose factor is still relevant when it comes to the look of things within the PDP family. He has virtually all former National Assembly with him, almost all his political appointees and notable leaders and individuals who are still very loyal to him.

Although, some elements within the party particularly those that left the party in annoyance before the gubernatorial election last year who have equally staged a come back are now having various meetings on how to control the party in the forthcoming congress.

This group is said to be in constant touch with senator Biodun Olujimi, though, her influence too is Germaine when it comes to power equation.

An unnoticeable factor is the former Deputy Governor of Ekiti state, Professor Kolapo Olusola Eleka. Bearing it in mind that he contested the gubernatorial election with Kayode fayemi equally has his own camp and followers. Though, it can not be totally separated from Ayo Fayose which at the end of the day will give the Fayose political family a far edge.


The questions that come to mind is that: Will senator Olujimi who is still battling the tribunal case against Adeyeye over the rightful owner of the Ekiti South Senatorial district withstand the likes Fayose, Eleka, party structure as the congress draws nearer?

Will these PDP titans strike a deal for the interest of the party towards 2022 in Ekiti state? Will the party bounce back from the present status of opposition to take up control of the state in 2022 ? All these questions will be answered in due course.

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