The race for the governorship election in Ekiti State has commenced, following release of the timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The poll is slated for June 18, next year. In the next 12 months, the electorate would file out to elect the next governor.
According to the timetable, the Notice of Election will be issued on 3rd January, 2022. The primaries for the election will take place between 4th January and January 29, while the submission of forms EC9 and EC9B would be between 31st January to 4th February.
Although, long before the announcement of the election date, there had been intrigues, alignment and realignment across parties. But, since the release of the poll date, the political tempo in the state has been heightened among the gladiators, especially aspirants of various political parties peeping for the Oke-Bareke Government House.
Who would be the next occupant of the Oke- Bareke Government House? Will Governor Kayode Fayemi install a successor? Will PDP dislodge APC? Will APC maintain a stranglehold?Will there be any third force to challenge APC and PDP? These are some of questions begging for answers as the poll draws closer.
The election is going to be a battle royale because the ruling All Progressive Congress would want to break the jinx of succession and retain the state. The political dream the main opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party are resolute to thwart with every possible means.
Observers believe the election would be a straight fight between the ruling APC and the PDP, going by the outcome of the last governorship elections. And that the hope of any third force to spring surprise is utopian.
However, the two major parties; APC and PDP, have intensified efforts ahead of the poll. Both parties have started mapping out strategies to ensure successful outing.
Both the APC and the PDP are at present beset with lingering internal wrangling ahead of the primaries.
In the PDP, the leadership tussle, which began between former Governor Ayodele Fayose and National Assembly member, Senator Biodun Olujimi, during the build up to the 2018 governorship poll and blossomed after Fayose left office, has snowballed into the splitting into factions.
The internal rife was accentuated during the parallel congresses at the ward, council and state levels, leading to the emergence of parallel executives at at all levels, with one loyal to Olujimi and other follows Fayose.
The crisis attracted the attention of the party’s National Working Committee led, by Uche Secondus, when the center could no longer hold. And in a deft moves, the NWC instructed the Bukola Saraki-led national reconciliation panel to broker peace between warring factions, which is still ongoing.
However, despite the reconciliatory meeting brokered by Saraki, which was attended by Fayose, Olujimi, Senator Duro Faseyi, and Chief Dipo Anilisulowo, Mrs Funmi Ogun, Otunba Oluyinka Akerele, Tunji Odeyemi, Barr. Gboyega Oguntuase and others, the two warring factions are yet to collapse structures for the guber poll.
In the APC, the controversy triggered by the governorship primary in 2018 has refused to settle. The internal crisis appears to be worsening on daily basis as stakeholders are going for each other’s jugular to score political points.
The Ojudu’s camp under the auspices of Ekiti APC Stakeholders Forum, in their bid to hijack the party’s structure under the firm grips of Fayemi, approached the court to challenge the validity of the congresses that produced the party executive committees at all levels. But, the group’s hope was dashed as the court dismissed the case.
The situation led to the suspension of some APC bigwigs, including the Political Adviser to the President, Ojudu, and counter-suspension of Fayemi and the APC state executive headed by Paul Omotoso. The national leadership has waded in and nullified the suspension and counter-suspension.
The crisis has continued to worry members. It has no doubt created a serious wedge and unnecessary rivalry among part leaders and may undermine APC chances in the June 18 poll.
Political events are going to be intense in few months as the party is preparing for its congress to pick new executives and candidates for the election. The contest will put to test the political strength of the warring factions.
The struggle for the seat is already gathering momentum.Within the PDP, subtle campaigns have been going on in different localities as billboard and posters of aspirants have flooded major streets of the metropolis. Consultative meetings are also on the various stakeholders.
In APC, secret meetings, alignment and realignment of forces and maneuverings have commenced. While those nursing the ambition within Fayemi’s cabinet are being cautious, other aspirants who do not align with any of the two blocs in the party have started campaign.
Gladiators jostling for the ticket under APC include the Secretary to the Ekiti State Government, Biodun Omoleye, Fayemi’s Chief of Staff, Biodun Omoleye, Mr. Seye Adetunmbi and current Commissioner for Public Utility, Bamidele Faparusi.
Others are ex-Rep member, Bimbo Daramola, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Speaker, Funminiyi Afuye, his deputy, Hakeem Jamiu, APC State Caretaker Chairman, Paul Omotoso, Senators Dayo Adeyeye, Opeyemi Bamidele, Babafemi Ojudu, Rep members,Yemi Adaramodu, and Femi Bamisile.
For the PDP, aspirants include Senator Olujimi; ex-governor Segun Oni, ex-deputy governor, Eleka; Yinka Akerele, ex-GTBank Deputy Managing Director, Kayode Adaramodu, and PDP National Treasurer, Wale Aribisala.
Others are Ekiti State PDP Chairman Bisi Kolawole, former deputy governor, Dr. Sikiru Lawal and a former senatorial aspirant, Lateef Ajijola.
The two major parties have started flexing muscles. While the PDP expressed confidence that it will emerge victorious, the APC said that there was no vacancy in the Government House.
The APC Caretaker Publicity Secretary, Ade Ajayi, boasted the poll would be a walkover for the ruling party due to what he called the superlative achievements of Fayemi.
Ajayi said that the APC is ready to break the age-long succession’s jinx in 2022 by ensuring that a politician from the progressive fold succeeds Fayemi at the expiration of his tenure.
He noted that the electorate are happy with the purposeful leadership of the APC-led government in piloting the affairs of the state and not ready to shift allegiance to PDP whose trademark is failure.
The APC spokesman said that the PDP, during its reign, put the gear of socio-economic development in Ekiti to reverse mode, adding that the party should bury its head in shame and forget governing the state.
He said the opposition party has been completely buried in Ekiti since former Governor Ayodele Fayose left the scene, adding that the party is bedeviled with myriad of crises that won’t allow it defeat the waxing APC.
“Let me tell you that we are prepared and well grounded to win the poll. APC is a more cohesive party. We are united under the leadership of Governor Kayode Fayemi.
“We are banking on our impressive performances to win and we are sure that the PDP will suffer another defeat again like they did in 2018,” he said.
But, the PDP State Publicity Secretary, Raphael Adeyanju, said the APC should prepare their handover note because the people are disenchanted with the Fayemi-led administration.
Adeyanju said the APC government has failed to deliver dividends of democracy to the electorate because they lacked service delivery plan and ideas that could translate to growth and development.
He said the ruling party should be prepared for an imminent defeat in the election, saying the leaders of the party are more united in their onerous task of dislodging the ruling APC.
Adeyanju added: “Let me say this, we know Ekiti will reject a party that has disappointed them. A party that can’t fix their roads, that can’t provide employment for youths, that can’t effect promotions for workers can’t continue to rule us. So, we are well prepared.
“Former governors Ayodele Fayose and Segun Oni as well as Senator Biodun Olujimi and other leaders are united behind PDP. We all have our eyes fixed on that governorship seat and we are confident that our victory is sacrosanct.”
The Nation
