Former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose; governorship candidate in last year’s governorship election, Bisi Kolawole and acting Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Lanre Omolase were among party leaders who shunned presidential campaign rally in Ado Ekiti which had presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar in attendance on Tuesday.
Others who shunned the rally were seven of the PDP National Assembly candidates and 20 of 26 House of Assembly candidates.
They stayed away from the rally over the crisis rocking the party both in the state and nationally.
While Fayose is sympathetic to Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and four other PDP governors who have continuously called for the resignation of the National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu, the party leaders in the state are at loggerheads with Atiku over the composition of the campaign council in the state.
WesternPost had reported that Kolawole and the National Assembly candidates had written to the party’s leadership, complaining about the inclusion of some members of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the campaign list.
They said all entreaties to meet with Atiku over the development were shunned by the presidential candidate.
Speaking at the rally, Atiku assured that if elected president, his administration would deploy all resources to attract socio-economic development, adding that he would be deliberate in the construction of roads leading to Ekiti State beginning with the Ado-Akure Road.
He said, “I am highly impressed with the huge crowd we are seeing here today despite antics of the APC government to cripple and sabotage the rally with artificial fuel scarcity and stoppage of drivers from Ekiti roads; let me assure you that we will make you happy for making us happy today.
“Ekiti is a state of intellectual prowess and we will tap into this in our government to develop and transform the nation,” he said.
“With what we have seen here today, we are sure that the people of Ekiti State will vote for Atiku,” PDP Vice Presidential candidate and Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, also said.
He also urged the electorate in the state to “use your PVC to send APC out of Nigeria.”
Earlier, Ayu had handed over flags to the Ekiti South Senatorial candidate, Biodun Olujimi; and House of Representative’s candidate for (Ekiti South 1), Henrich Akomolafe who were the only two National Assembly candidates present at the rally.
