In a bid to approach the forthcoming national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, with a solid front, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has advocated the conduct of primary election among former governor Rashidi Ladoja, Prof Taoheed Adedoja and other national chairmanship aspirants in the PDP in the Southwest geopolitical zone.
Contrary to insinuations that he opposed the national chairmanship position of the party coming to the South West, the governor said he would never work against the interest of any aspirant or work against interest of the zone.
He stated this on Saturday night when the former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, visited him at the Government House, Ado-Ekiti.
In a press release by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, he quoted the governor as saying that presenting one contestant would brighten the chances of the zone in clinching the position at the national convention of the party.
“We need to get a consensus candidate from our zone to clinch the post. We should not go to the convention a divided house. I see nothing bad if we get all the delegates from the Southwest to vote in a shadow election for their preferred candidate. Then whoever emerges would be supported by all during the convention.
” If we propose that and majority of the aspirants agree, whoever does not agree would be seen as having no follower at all. I can’t work against you or your interest. We have too many aspirants from our zone and it is not only us that will decide who becomes the national chairman of our party, it will be decided by every member from across the country.
“As for my position as the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, I am only a voice there. Agree that the governors will play a crucial role in determining who wins, but if I say something, I can’t force it down the throats of my colleagues.
” It is only advisable that we get our house in order. All the aspirants from our area, apart from dividing the votes in the region, are also dividing the votes in the North too. We all know that our party is the party to beat in the country, ” he said.
Governor Fayose also assured that he would never work against the interest of Daniel or any aspirant in the zone or work against the interest of the zone itself.
In his remarks, Otunba Daniel, who is among the chairmanship aspirants, said he had all it takes to lead the PDP.
