55 candidates jostle for Ekiti State governor’s seat

No fewer than 55 aspirants are already jostling for the governorship seat in Ekiti State ahead of the 2018 election in the state.

The aspirants cut across the two major political parties in the state, which include the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressives Congress, APC.

While the PDP has 15 aspirants warming up for the primaries, the remaining 40 are coming on the platform of the APC.
According to the Sun, the PDP aspirants include incumbent Deputy Governor, Dr. Olusola Olubunmi Kolapo, ex-Deputy Governors, Sikiru Lawal, National Secretary of the Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi led Natonal Caretaker Committee of PDP, and ex-Minister of state for works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, former Deputy Governor and Senator Biodun Olujimi, Mr. Bisi Omoyeni, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Mr. Owoseni Ajayi and Abiodun Aluko, among others.
They are said to be already seeking the support of party members and reaching out to interest groups and trade unions to get their support to clinch the party ticket ahead of 2018.

Aspirants from the APC are made up of names such as Adebayo Oririe, Opeyemi Bamidele, Bimbo Daramola, Hon. Bamidele Faparusi, Sen. Gbenga Aluko, Sen. Babafemi Ojudu, Sen. Ayo Arise, Engr. Segun Oni, and Opeyemi Bamidele, among others.
It was further gathered that each of the PDP aspirants who considered themselves as anointed candidates of governor Fayose are riding on the shoulder of the governor in order to leverage on his wide acceptance by the people to win the party ticket and eventually get the governor’s job.
However, governor Fayose, whose tenure expires October 15, 2018, has promised to ensure that only a consensus candidate emerges at the primary of the party, adding that he would not impose any candidate on the state.

He said, “Although, some aspirants have already indicated their interest in the race, but as a leader of the party and governor, I will support a system that would provide a consensus candidate among the aspirants.
“This we will do by allowing a level playing ground where all aspirants would be put to a test of their popularity, acceptance and ‎influence on the people as the people would choose in a primary, the candidate they want for the election.”