By ADEWUMI ADEMIJU, Ado-Ekit
Some gubernatorial aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State a legal redress in the court of law to recover his aborted first tenure as governor of the state, and possibly recontest in the gubernatorial election in 2018.
The aspirants who include Deputy Governor of the state, Kolapo Olusola, Ikere Local Government Area (LGA), Bisi Omoyeni, Ikere LGA, Sikiru Tae Lawal, Ado LGA, Kayode Oso, Ado LGA, and Bisi Komolafe, Efon LGA, accordingly, suspended their gubernatorial aspirations pending the determination of the matter in court.
A communique of their meeting in Ado-Ekiti, co-signed by the aspirants and read by the Deputy Governor Olusola read in part:
“That the Supreme Court in the case of APC versus PDP & ORS resolved that the first tenure of Governor Peter Ayodele Fayose was unlawfully terminated in a civilian coup-like manner and hence deserves redress, that in consideration of the above, we hereby urge and encourage.
Governor Fayose to seek legal redress in the competent court of Law to recover the aborted mandate including allowing him to contest 2018 gubernatorial election as the 2014 gubernatorial election and the subsequent swearing-in is so far the only legally recognised mandate of the Governor. Hence, he still enjoys a legal right to contest for a second term as Governor, and that pending the determination of this issue for the realisation of the Governor’s mandate by the court, we hereby suspend our gubernatorial aspirations.”
Speaking further, Olusola said: “we pledge our support for the continuity agenda of our Governor in order to ensure a smooth transition. This decision is purely on our resolve to have this mandate truncated by enemies of democracy not to go unchallenged for posterity sake and to strengthen democratic institutions in the country, “he added