In a move to halt the alleged hijacking of the Ekiti State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) by former governor Ayo Fayose, party leaders have endorsed Funso Ayeni as their preferred candidate for the upcoming state congress chairmanship election.
The endorsement came at a meeting of PDP stakeholders, where they accused Fayose of betraying the party in the last elections by supporting candidates of opposing political parties. The former state party chairman, Mr. Gboyega Oguntuase, speaking on behalf of the stakeholders, stated that the party must elect a leader of integrity and capacity to rescue it from “internal saboteurs.”
“This is why all the leaders and members of the party have endorsed Funso Ayeni. When we work and secure victory by getting the governor of the state, we can then begin zoning. Zoning without governorship would amount to nothing,” Oguntuase said.
In his acceptance speech, Ayeni, a former senatorial candidate, said the party could not be consolidated by wooing Ekiti PDP with money allegedly collected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) government. He challenged the party leaders to rise up to their responsibilities and support the best candidate.
“Why will a leader in the PDP go to the opposition party to collect money? I think that people should wake up to their responsibilities and if indeed, the interest of Ekiti is in the mind of everybody, I want the people to rise up and select the best when the time comes,” Ayeni said.
The development sets the stage for a potential showdown within the Ekiti PDP as the party prepares for its state congress. Observers will be keen to see if the endorsed candidate, Funso Ayeni, can emerge victorious and provide the leadership to unite the party ahead of the gubernatorial election.