Ekiti guber poll: Olujumi, Eleka differ on alleged intimidation of aspirants

Two Peoples Democratic Party’s Ekiti State governorship aspirants, Biodun Olujimi and the deputy governor, Kolapo Olusola (Eleka) clashed in Abuja yesterday, expressing opposing views on the alleged intimidation of aspirants in the state. While Olujumi condemned governor Fayose’s alleged use of state power to intimidate aspirants, Eleka denied knowledge of such and passed confidence vote on Fayose. 

Olujimi said she was confident that she would pick the Peoples Democratic Party’s ticket. Few aspirants on the PDP platform including Dayo Adeyeye and Olujinmi have accused the state governor, Ayodele Fayose of intimidating them and coercing their supporters. Olujimi, a former deputy governor of the state and one of the leading contenders for PDP ticket said she cannot be cowed by the antics of the state governor on her avowed mission of contesting on the platform of the party and become the next governor of the state.

The senator who was at the Wadata Plaza national secretariat of the PDP in Abuja yesterday to return her nomination form told journalists that she couldn’t be forced out of the party because of intimidation by governor Fayose.

Eleka said that he is proud to be the anointed candidate of the state governor, Ayodele Fayose for the gubernatorial contest.The deputy governor who was also in Abuja to return his nomination form said though he is in the race to better the lot of Ekiti people by consolidating on the dividends of democracy provided by the Fayose administration, he did not see anything wrong in being supported by the state governor who has the personal right of supporting whom he likes.

Reacting to allegation that the Fayose uses both state and party apparatus to intimidate other aspirants and their supporters to conscript support for him, Kolapo said he was not aware that anybody was being intimidated for his sake.

He said by virtue of his upbringing, belief and academic exposure, he will never subscribe to illegality and will not be party to a rancorous primary but subject himself to a free, fair and transparent primary.

The National Organising Secretary of the party, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd) who received nomination forms from the two aspirants expressed delight in the confidence that the people of Ekiti State have in the PDP.