Bisi Kolawole, the anointed candidate of a former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has emerged as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the June 18th governorship election in Ekiti state.
The primary election, which took place in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday, saw Kolawole, a former Chairman of PDP in Ekiti State defeat an ex-Governor of the state, Segun Oni and a former Deputy Governor of the state, Kolapo Olusola.
Kolawole had resigned his position as Ekiti PDP chairman to contest the governorship election. He was the preferred aspirant of former governor of the state, Ayodele Fayose.
Kolawole is also a former lawmaker representing Efon State Constituency in Ekiti State House of Assembly. He also served as Commissioner for Environment between 2015 and 2018.
While endorsing Kolawole for the governorship election, Fayose described him as a bridge-builder who will usher in a better future for the state and PDP.
“The man you have come to honour, Bisi Kolawole, is our collective project. I made him my preferred candidate in the overall interest of our party, but this does not foreclose due process of nomination in PDP.
“PDP is what we are supporting; it is what we are marketing. And all we want is a winner. We have started consultations and I know that victory is sure for us,” Fayose said.
Earlier, Senator (Mrs.) Abiodun Olujimi, the Senator representing Ekiti South in the National Assembly, had pulled out of the race, accusing the party of tampering with the delegate list.
The delegates first converged at the Pastoral Centre in Ado Ekiti to get accredited, after which they moved to Great Eagle Hall for the voting exercise.
Olujimi, in a short statement, alleged that the delegates list had been doctored. The Senator said she has no confidence in the ability of the organisers to deliver credible exercise.
Her withdrawal left remaining 16 aspirants in the primary election conducted by Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, who was the chairman of the primary election committee.
It would be recalled that men of the 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, in Akure, Ondo State, early on Wednesday, arrested no fewer than 150 political thugs at Ita Awure/Efon Junction, Efon Alaaye, Ekiti State.
It was gathered that the political thugs were heading towards Ado Ekiti for PDP governorship primary at the state capital. They were reportedly arrested around 3am on Wednesday.
Newsmen reported that the soldiers took the suspects to Owens Barracks in Akure for further interrogation.
The Public Relations Officer of the Brigade, Akin Omojokun who confirmed the arrest, said the Brigade would soon issue a statement on the development.
The full results of the elections is as stated below:
Kayode Adaramodu — 10
Kazeem Ayodeji — 6
Olusola Kolapo — 93
Deborah Ali — 1
Ojo — 1
Makanjuola — 1
Biodun Olujimi — 2
Aderemi Adewumi — 1
Adewale Aribisala — 56
Segun Oni — 330
Bisi Kolawole — 671