Ekiti 2018 gubernatorial: Fayose anoints Deputy as successor 

Ekiti State Governor,Mr. Peter Ayodele Fayose ahead of the state’s guber race scheduled to hold next year has just thrown his weight and political might behind his Deputy, Professor Kolapo Olushola Eleka to be his successor as his tenure in office winds down,his choice was greeted with wild jubilation all round Ado-Ekiti.

Prof  Eleka was preferred by Governor Ayo Fayose to be the standard flag bearer of the PDP in the coming 2018 gubernatorial elections in Ekiti. National Daily reliably gathered that Fayose anoints his Deputy for the much coveted job owing to reports that  Mr Kayode Oso his initial choice might scuttle his electoral fortune at the general election.

Governor Fayose according to sources close to the Ekiti corridors  of power allegedly had a night time parley that lasted for several hours with prominent indigenes of Ado Ekiti including a legal luminary and a notable  traditional ruler.

The deputy governor, is a professor of Building Technology from the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, Osun State.

The governor has called all party stalwarts to a meeting today to intimate them of his decision to endorse Prof Olusola.

The decision to field Fayose’s Deputy was reached at the party’s stakeholders meeting in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday.

The meeting was attended by 177 councillors, 177 ward chairpersons, 16 Local Government party chairpersons, 16 Local Council chairpersons, Chairpersons and members of boards and parastatals, State Executive Council, Ekiti State House of Assembly members, serving and former members of the PDP State Working Committee, former Deputy Governor, among others.

The communique issued at the end of the meeting reads; “After due consultation, without prejudice to the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), we formally endorse His Excellency, Prof Kolapo Olusola (the current deputy governor), from Ekiti South Senatorial District, as our preferred aspirant/candidate.”Those who signed the communique are: Anifowose Mustapha, for councillors, Amuda Sunmonu, for ward chairpersons; Femi Bamisile, for Local Government party chairpersons; Dapo Olagunju, for Local Government chairpersons (ALGON); Bode Ola, for chairmen of boards and parastatals; Modupe Alade (Secretary to the State Government), for State Executive Council; Kolawole Oluwawole,

Speaker of the State House of Assembly and the State Chairman of the party, Gboyega Oguntuase.

Speaking with newsmen after the adoption, Mr. Oguntuase said the party organs will abide by the decision taken by the stakeholders in the overall interest of the party and the entire people of Ekiti State.

He, however, said that the adoption will not preclude any member of the party that is interested in the governorship ticket from contesting, adding that open and transparent primary election will be held in accordance with the rules of the party.

The Chairman of Forum of Ward Chairpersons, Amuda Sunmonu, also hailed the decision to adopt Mr. Olusola, maintaining that “Wherever Governor Fayose goes, we will follow him.”

Also speaking on behalf of local council councillors, Anifowose Mustapha said all the 177 councillors in the state were solidly behind the governor and “the decision of the party’s stakeholders remained binding on all of us.”

The Secretary to the State Government, Modupe Alade, described the deputy governor as a competent and loyal member of the Governor Ayodele Fayose political family, adding that his adoption was a reward for loyalty, dedication and commitment.