The hostility between ex-governor Fayose of Ekiti State, and Senate Minority Leader, Senator Biodun Olujimi may not be anywhere near end as the duo inaugurated parallel campaign councils for the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
It was reported that the ex-governor, in his capacity as the South West Coordinator of the Peoples Democratic Party campaign, inaugurated the council members in Ado Ekiti, in line with list of names reportedly approved by the national secretariat of the party.
However, Olujimi, representing Ekiti South Senatorial District at the National Assembly, at a different location in Ado Ekiti, inaugurated a parallel council.
Olujimi has petitioned the leadership of the party, led by the chairman, Uche Secondus. She accused Fayose sidelining members of the party, except his allies, from the mobilisation efforts.
She argued that this was contrary to the list agreed to by party stakeholders and therefore, urged the National Working Committee to disband and reconstitute the council in the interest of all in the forthcoming elections.
While the Olujimi inauguration took place at the Ajilosun area of the state capital and was attended by members of the party loyal to her, Fayose’s inauguration, on the other hand, took place at his former campaign office in Adebayo area of the state capital, now renamed Atiku/Obi campaign office.
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The two inaugurations were well attended by chieftains of the party from the Senate, state House of Assembly, House of Representatives and former Local Government chairmen.
In a veiled reference to Olujimi’s senatorial ambition, Fayose warned that he might use his position to mobilise the people to vote out those he described as ‘traitors’ in the coming election.
According to the former governor, the campaign council was carefully selected in agreement with the National Secretariat of the party to represent all shades of opinion in the state PDP.
In his remarks, the chairman of the campaign council for Fayose’s camp and former Deputy Governor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, also distanced himself from the Olujimi campaign group.
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“There is no alternative campaign council except this one. Any other campaign council where my name appears outside the one inaugurated by our leader, the (ex-)governor, is illegal,” he added.
The state PDP chairman, Mr. Gboyega Oguntuase, also said the Fayose-led Council is the only legitimate body recognised by Abuja.
At the inauguration of her campaign council, Olujimi said that injustice breeds impunity; adding that if the party stakeholders met and selected people, no individual, including Fayose, has the right to void same.
She said though she was not a party to the selection of the campaign council, she has the right to continue with the assignment.