Ekiti: Fayose sacked as PDP leader

– Former governor Ayodele Fayose has been removed as the leader of the party in Ekiti state

– Stakeholders in Ekiti state adopted the Senate minority leader, Abiodun Olujimi, as the leader of the party in the state and southwest

– Olujimi assured supporters that they are on the same page with Fayose

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders in Ekiti state have removed former governor Ayodele Fayose as the leader of the party in the state.

Senate minority leader, Senator Biodun Olujimi, who is the party’s highest ranking political office holder in the southwest geo-political zone was affirmed as PDP’s new leader in Ekiti state and southwest region.

The Nation reports that the stakeholders called for the immediate dissolution of the present State Working Committee led by the state PDP chairman, Gboyega Oguntuase, and demanded the constitution of a caretaker committee.

These resolutions were reached at Ekiti PDP stakeholders meeting which held in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, and was attended by serving and former political office holders.

Those who attended the meeting included Olujimi, former deputy governor, Dr. Sikiru Lawal; former acting governor, Olatunji Odeyemi; Ekiti Assembly deputy speaker, Segun Adewumi; former state PDP Chairman, Chief Bola Olu-Ojo; governorship aspirants, former National Assembly members, former State Assembly members, former local government chairmen and former party officers.

Speaking with reporters after the meeting, Senator Olujimi explained that Fayose was excluded from the meeting owing to the fact that he had just been released from detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged financial fraud.

“We knew what he might have passed through by staying in detention and we know it might not be easy for him to attend this meeting, so there is no faction at all in our party. My being appointed the Leader does not mean there is crisis.

“The very day he left office was the day he was summoned by EFCC and we knew the rigour he had passed through. We are going to work together, I mean with former Governor Fayose. What we are doing is that we don’t want to allow his exit from office to mean the end of PDP in Ekiti.

“So, let me assure our supporters that we are on the same page with former Governor Fayose and other stakeholders. We are not factionalised and we shall work hard and ensure we win in next year’s election,” she said.

Also, the suspension of former state secretary, Dr. Temitope Aluko, was overturned and he was affirmed as a bona fide member of the party.

The leaders also resolved to throw their weight behind the candidacy of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the 2019 presidential poll and other Ekiti candidates in the general elections.

TRACK NEWS had reported that Fayose regained freedom after spending 13 days in custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). According to his aide, Lere Olayinka, Fayose was released on Monday, October 29. He is expected to return to the Federal High Court in Ikoyi from November 19 for his trial.

Fayose was arraigned at a High Court in Lagos after he presented himself at the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Abuja. He was later granted a N50 million bail, but failed to meet the conditions on Friday.

The former governor and his company, Spotless Limited, are facing an 11-count charge of conspiracy and money laundering amounting to ₦2.2 billion.