Adebayo Adenrele
The faction of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State backed by FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has called on the gubernatorial candidate of the party in the state, Dr. Wole Oluyede to dissolve the executives led by former Acting Governor, Hon. Tunji Odeyemi, in order to make meaningful impact in the forthcoming June 20 poll in the state.
Addressing journalists in Ado-Ekiti, the chairman of the faction in Ekiti State, Lanre Omolase knocked the gubernatorial candidate for bypassing the court-backed state executives in the state and liaise with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Omolase noted that Oluyede failed to settle scores with the grassroots before meeting with their national leader, warning that such action will truncate his chance of becoming a formidable candidate of the party.
They urged him to formally submit himself to the Party’s leadership and structure and to immediately dissolve and reintegrate his defunct group should be wants to be recognised as the candidate of the party.
While acknowledging that a court judgment might have recognised Oluyede as a candidate, Omolase stated that such recognition does not override the authority of the party’s constitution or its leadership structures.
His words, “The Party has been inundated with reports suggesting that one Dr. Oluwole Oluyede is being presented as either a court-imposed candidate or a defunct candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party.
“We wish to state clearly that the Party has not been officially updated or formally notified by the said individual confirming his acceptance of, and recognition by, the duly constituted leadership of the Party as the gubernatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in Ekiti State.
“The Peoples’ Democratic Party, Ekiti State Chapter, wishes to inform Nigerians and the good people of Ekiti State that Dr. Oluwole Oluyede is presently aligned with the Turaki-led group, which has been restrained from parading itself or being referred to as the National leadership of the Peoples’ Democratic Party in any forum.
“Accordingly, the State Working Committee, acting pursuant to the authority of the Party Constitution states that the duly recognized State Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party in Ekiti State is Hon. Omolase Lanre, together with all members of the State Executive Committee, and their constitutional authority must be respected by every member and candidate of the Party.
“While a court judgment may have recognized Dr. Oluwole Oluyede as a candidate, such recognition does not place him above the Party, its Constitution, or its leadership structure. The Party has not formally recognized him as its candidate.
“The Party hereby calls on Dr. Oluwole Oluyede, should he truly desire to contest on the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, to formally submit himself to the Party’s leadership and structure, and to immediately dissolve and reintegrate his defunct group, including Rt. Hon. Tunji Odeyemi, into the Peoples’ Democratic Party from the ward level to the State level.
“Should Dr. Oluyede eventually be recognized as the flag bearer of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, he must submit fully and without reservation to the Party’s leadership, structure, and Constitution.
“It is also important to state that Dr. Oluwole Oluyede has not formally aligned with or publicly affirmed acceptance of the Party’s leadership and structure, as required of any candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party”.
