The former State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Olabisi Kolawole, at the party’s primary election, defeated a former Governor of the state, Segun Oni, including Professor Olusola Eleka, former deputy governor, to win the governorship ticket of the party for the June 18 election. Kolawole, perceived to be sponsored by former Governor Ayo Fayose, won the PDP primary election with 671 votes of the 1185 delegates, while former governor Segun Oni had 330 votes to place second.
There was pandemonium over the list of delegates to the state congress to elect the party’s governorship candidate. Security operatives, including the military were drafted in to restore law and order at the venue of the primary election in Ado Ekiti.
There were eight aspirants for the PDP governorship ticket in Ekiti State, who include former deputy governor under Fayose, who was the PDP candidate in the 2018 governorship election, Professor Olusola Eleka.
Other aspirants include former PDP National Treasurer, Wale Aribisala; Bisi Kolawole, Kayode Adaramodu, Lateef Ajijola, and Mrs. Titilayo Owolabi-Akerele.
One governorship aspirant, Senator Abiodun Olujimi, stepped down before the primary election began.
Olujimi, representing Ekiti South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, complained of gender intimidation and improper resolution of the crisis that trialed the PDP congress in the state.