Confusion reigned in Ekiti on Saturday as the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) held the ward electoral congress to elect three-men ad hoc delegates across the 177 wards in the State.
The confusion began when political thugs suspected to be loyal to former Governor Ayodele Fayose allegedly invaded the hotel where the panel members sent from Abuja were lodged and hijacked materials for the exercise in Ado-Ekiti.
Operatives of the Nigeria Police, Military and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps who were drafted to the venue to provide security were overwhelmed by the heavily armed thugs.
Earlier in the day, supporters of aspirants angling for the party’s ticket ahead of the June 18 governorship election besieged the hotel to protest the alleged hijack of the process by Fayose.
Addressing newsmen, some leaders of the party, including former Governor Segun Oni, Senator Biodun Olujimi, Ex-Deputy Governor Kolapo Eleka, Lateef Ajijola and Wale Aribisala, who are governorship aspirants, rejected the ward congress.
The leaders accused the committee led by Akwa Ibom Governor, Emmanuel Udom of allegedly working for Fayose to truncate the wishes of the majority of the party’s members and hijack the process.
Expressing regret that the materials sent to the 177 wards were allegedly hijacked, Oni described the situation as worrisome and unfortunate, saying he never expected such an act in the PDP.
Oni said: โWhat you have seen today is laughable. And this is the standard we still are as a country. It is very unfortunate. There is nothing we can do other than to complain formally. We went upstairs and also told the acting Chairman of the ward congress panel. I believe we cannot have democracy by hijack.
Olujimi regretted that the sordid scenario was a repeat of what transpired during the Congress of the party in 2021, describing the congress as a predetermined exercise.
The Congress Panel Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, who debunked the allegations, said the committee didn’t bend the rules to favour any of the factions.
He explained that the accreditation and distribution of materials were done in the presence of all the representatives of the aspirants.
