Politics

EKITI GUBER POLL: I’ll challenge Fayemi’s victory – PDP candidate

 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti state, Professor Kolapo Olusola, has rejected the results of the poll as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The electoral body yesterday announced APC candidate, Kayode Fayemi, winner of the election.
The APC candidate polled 197,459 votes while his closest rival had 178,121 votes, a margin of 19,338.
Mr Fayemi’s victory comes amidst a bitter rivalry between him and the incumbent Governor,  Ayo Fayose.
Fayose of the PDP strongly backed Mr Eleka, who is his deputy governor.
The local governments won by Mr Fayemi include Ekiti West, Ekiti South West,Ekiti East, Ise Orun, Ikole, Gboyin, Ijero, Moba, Ilejemeje, Oye, Irepodun/Ifelodun and Ido Osi local governments.
The election admittedly witnessed pockets of violence and ballot box snatching. But the incidents, according to observers, fell short of the fears and concerns raised just before the election.
While declaring Mr Fayemi the winner of Saturday’s election, the Returning Officer, Idowu Olayinka, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, on Sunday said Mr Fayemi had satisfied the requirements of the law to be declared governor-elect of Ekiti State.
“I certify that John Olukayode Fayemi of the APC has satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes, and is hereby declared the winner and therefore returned elected,” Mr Oluyinka declared.
In his official reaction to the outcome of the election, Olusola, who is the present deputy governor of the state, alleged wide spread irregularities adding that the people’s will had been subverted.
Olusola who alleged federal might in support of Fayemi to rig the election insisted his party won in all 16 local governments areas with 70 per cent of the lawful votes cast.
“You are all aware of the unfortunate and dangerous events of the past 24 hours, in which our governorship election was hijacked by political desperadoes leveraging on “Federal might” to pervert the electoral process, subvert the will of Ekiti people, and viciously steal the mandate willingly and freely given to me on a massive scale by our people.
“PDP and I won the election overwhelmingly, receiving more than 70% of lawful votes cast and winning in almost all of the State’s 16 local government areas. I therefore reject the falsified results being bandied by the Independent National Electoral Commission, which purportedly gave the election to the All Progressives Congress and its candidate; Dr. John Kayode Fayemi. This is the most audacious electoral robbery of our recent history. It shall not stand. By the grace of Almighty God and your support, I will pursue and regain my mandate.


…party rejects result, says election manipulated

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in its reaction to the victory of Kayode Fayemi in Saturday’s governorship election in the state rejected results declared by INEC.
The Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan described in a Press conference on Monday in Abuja described the exercise as an electoral banditry adding that the PDP was in possession of the authentic results of the election from the polling unit across the state.
If further blamed the security agencies, INEC and other agencies of government for conniving with the APC to rig the election for the Fayemi.


…tragedy as pastor ram into crowd in Fayemi’s town

A mid-size wagon ran into an ecstatic crowd welcoming the victory of Kayode Fayemi on Sunday morning, hitting a seven-year-old boy and leaving him ghastly wounded.
Medical personnel, who were not optimistic about the boy’s high chances of recovery, urged his family and relatives to be fervent in their prayers.
Witnesses immediately identified the driver as a preacher with Living Faith Church (a.k.a. Winners’ Chapel). The man was on his way to Sunday service when the accident occurred about 8:26 a.m.
Imole Afolabi was rushed to Heirs Hospital in downtown Oye, and medical personnel immediately shut the entrance to prevent overcrowding and any distraction that could come with it while administering emergency treatment.
According to online news medium Premium Times, the boy’s mother, Funmilola Afolabi, said they joined residents who trooped out to celebrate Mr Fayemi’s victory at Ilupeju Junction, Oye, shortly after INEC declared the APC candidate winner of the Saturday election.
Mrs Afolabi, who became instantly downcast in a campaign vest distributed by the APC, said the hospital officials asked her to hold strongly onto her faith.
The pastor, who identified himself only as Festus, said he was not speeding beyond approved limit for the zone before the accident. He also insisted that he held the brakes of his 1970s model Peugeot 504, but regretted that the boy was still seriously injured.
“We are placing all our hope in God,” he said.
Witnesses at the scene said the pastor was not at top speed or reckless prior to the crash.
Hospital officials were unable to interact with the online medium but the senior doctor on duty said it was difficult to speak on the boy’s status as at 9:06 a.m.
A spokesperson for the police in the state could not however be reached for comments yesterday morning.


…coalition of observers to release findings, Wednesday

Coalition of observer groups and Civil Society Organisations that observed and monitored the Saturday July 14th Governorship elections in Ekiti State have condemned the announcement of the All Progressives Congress APC candidate John Kayode Fayemi as winner of the elections.
In a press statement signed by its contact persons Comrade Haruna Farouk and Nze Adachi Okoro, the group said the election does not reflect what they saw on ground and it will open up on the true findings on Wednesday 18th July 2018 with details of the malpractices that greeted the election.
It said it was regrettable that the Independent national Electoral Commission as well as the security agencies could be used to short change the people of the state the way they did on the day of the elections.
The Coalition said it has gathered evidence that will show how the election was massively rigged describing the situation as a sad moment for democracy in the country.
“Other incidents that we recorded will be made open in our findings which will definitely shock Nigerians and expose the conspiracy of INEC, Security agents and the APC to deprive the people of Ekiti from expressing their constitutional rights.”
The Coalition called on the international community to condemn what it called the ‘political terrorism’ that took place against the people of Ekiti state on Saturday stressing that their voice against the actions of the Federal Government, INEC and Security agents will help put pressure on the government to do the right thing.


Fayemi Urges Fayose, Olusola to accept defeat

The Ekiti governor-elect, Kayode Fayemi, has called on the incumbent Governor, Ayodele Fayose and his deputy and candidate of the PDP, Olusola Eleka, to accept the electoral defeat in good faith.
Mr Fayemi urged them to emulate what he did on June 21, 2014 when he accepted Mr Fayose’s victory and congratulated him.
The former Minister of Mines and Steel Development gave the admonition while addressing party supporters at a victory rally at the APC secretariat on Sunday in Ado Ekiti.
In his speech on Sunday, Mr Fayemi assured the workers that his government would accord priority to the payment of backlog of salary arrears and youth empowerment as well as rural development.
He said he would inaugurate a Transition Committee on Tuesday that would prepare grounds on how his government would hit the ground running on October 16.
…bike riders celebrate Fayemi’s victory
Supporters of Kayode Fayemi, governor-elect of Ekiti state, on Sunday rode motorcycles on the streets of Ado-Ekiti, capital of the state, to celebrate his victory.
Fayemi defeated Kolapo Olusola, the incumbent deputy governor of the state, who ran under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).


Buhari, Saraki, Obasanjo, others congratulate ex-minister

President Muhammadu Buhari says the emergence of Kayode Fayemi as winner of the Ekiti state gubernatorial election is another instance of democracy winning in Nigeria.
In his congratulatory message issued by Femi Adesina, Presidential spokesman, Buhari said the people of Ekiti “spoke loud and clear” by voting in Fayemi.
He also advised the losers of the election not to resort to self-help.
The President also congratulated all the members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for “the hard-fought victory after a dignified campaign.”
“President Buhari urges the governor-elect and APC members to be magnanimous in victory as the incoming administration prepares to unfold a new lease of life for the people of Ekiti state through purposeful and responsible governance,” the statement read.“He commends the people of the state for their matured and peaceful conduct as they made their choice using the power of the ballot and lauded INEC for adequate preparations and displaying impartiality throughout the process.
Buhari applauded the security agencies for creating the right atmosphere for the relatively peaceful conduct of the polls and urges them to sustain the peace.
He urged the losers to be gallant in conceding defeat and use constitutional means to settle whatever grievances they may have rather than resort to self-help.
Similarly, the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, has congratulated the Governor-elect of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on his victory in the just-concluded Ekiti gubernatorial election.
Saraki, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, stated that the Governor-elect of Ekiti State should use his second-coming to continue the people-centered policies and programmes of his first term, while urging him to also work to grow the State’s economy in order to leave behind a sustainable legacy.
He said the victory was a sign that the people of Ekiti State still have confidence in the former minister’s ability to provide good governance and render efficient service to the state and its people. He also advised the Governor-elect to maintain his focus on how to bring more development to the State and improve the standard of living of the people.
Saraki also urged INEC and security agencies, the government and entire electorate to learn some lessons from the Ekiti State gubernatorial election, which has served as a fore-runner to the 2019 General Elections and ensure that all areas of complaints and inadequacies are corrected before a similar election in Osun State and the 2019 general elections.
Saraki prayed that God will bless and guide the Governor-elect as he prepares to assume Office, and called for a smooth transition between the outgoing government and the incoming one.
In the same vein, former President Olusegun Obasanjo also congratulated the Governor-Elect, Kayode Fayemi on his victory in the exercise held on Saturday, July 14.
Obasanjo, on Sunday, according to Premium Times wrote Fayemi that his “success at the polls after a hard fought campaign is proof that the people of Ekiti state value your leadership and appreciate the efforts you have made thus far on their behalf.
“I salute you and all those who worked for your re-election. You will agree with me, no doubt, that the outcome of the election broadly reflects the choice of your people, who have, by their conduct, visibly demonstrated that they cherish you and will do their utmost to make you succeed.
“I urge you, therefore, to reciprocate their trust by doing everything you can to strengthen their faith in democracy and in its ability to bring about improved material conditions and better service delivery to them.
“You have fought and won the election and deserve to savour the victory. As you rejoice, however, I would urge that you should be magnanimous in victory and stretch a hand of fellowship to the other candidates who failed in their bid for elected office.
“Such a gesture is not only charitable but should also help at this time to cool passions in the wider interest of Ekiti state in particular and Nigeria at large.
“I felicitate with you, once again, on your renewed mandate and, as you prepare for another four years at the helm of affairs of Ekiti state, I extend best wishes for your good health and the continued progress of Ekiti State under your able leadership.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC) congratulated Dr. Kayode Fayemi, over the victory on Sunday
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi noted that
Fayemi ran an effective and positive campaign focused on his agenda of rebuilding the economy of the state and returning its lost values of integrity, prudence and decency.
The Party commends INEC, security agencies, local and international observers, as well as other stakeholders, for their admirable role in making the Ekiti gubernatorial election one in which the people’s will has prevailed.
It assured the people of Ekiti and Nigerians that the APC is best placed to move the country forward and resolve the seemingly intractable problems bedevilling the country.


EFCC hints at Fayose’s arrest

…anti-graft agency under fire over threat, deletes controversial tweet

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC) on Sunday hinted that it is dusting off its shelves on the case of the integrated poultry project against Ayodele Fayose, the Governor of Ekiti state.
The anti-graft agency filed the N1.3bn fraud case against Fayose in 2005, which led to his impeachment from office in 2006.
The project, involving the building of four poultry farms in four centres in the state, was handled by Gbenga James, Fayose’s childhood friend, who eventually testified against him.
The money was reportedly spent on building a house in Ibadan, Oyo state for Fayose and purchase of Mercedes Benz worth N2.1million for his mother among others.
However, the investigation was done in Fayose’s absence as he fled the country to avoid being arrested by officials of the EFCC but has since then dodged prosecution on the wings of immunity.
Meanwhile, Nigerians have condemned the EFCC for declaring that the Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose would be arrested.
The anti-graft commission had tweeted the threat a few hours after the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti state, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, was declared winner.
EFCC wrote at 12:37pm: “The parri is over; The cloak of immunity torn apart, and the staff broken. #Ekiti Integrated Poultry Project/Biological Concepts Limited N1.3bn fraud case file dusted of the shelves. See you soon”.
But the tweet was reportedly deleted when it was checked around 3pm.
Reacting, Nigerians said the announcement was meant to intimidate Fayose whose term in office expires on October 15, 2018.

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