PDP promises free, transparent governorship primary in Ekiti

THE People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has pledged to ensure that its Ekiti State governorship primary scheduled for May 8, 2018 was free, fair, transparent and devoid of rancour.

National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, former President of the Senate, David Mark and Governor Ayodele Fayose, made the promise in Ado-ekiti, the Ekiti State capital yesterday.

Consequently, Fayose said he was ready to temporarily relocate from Ekiti during the primary to ensure his neutrality, saying that without being physically present on the day of election, he would still win the election for his party.

They stated this yesterday at a peace parley with aggrieved PDP aspirants and governorship hopefuls including the Senate Minority Whip, Biodun Olujimi, Deputy Governor, Professor Kolapo Olusola and former Minister for Works, Dayo Adeyeye, who pledged their support for the party.

They also pledge to accept the result of the primary provided it was free, fair and transparent.

Secondus said: “I assure you once again that there will be transparency and the process would not cheat anybody. I urge you to join the leaders to work together to ensure free, fair and transparent primaries. Trusted and eminent Nigerians will conduct the primaries.

“We urge you to remain calm. We also urge INEC and security agents not to be partial but to defend democracy. From here we are moving to other parts of the country for sensitisation.”

Mark, who chaired the reconciliation committee, said the party has been working on bringing peace to Ekiti by reconciling all parties and that has been done very well, adding: “I thank you for the peaceful agreement to work together. I assure you that the process leading to the final election of whoever will become PDP candidate in Ekiti for the July poll will be free, fair and credible.

Governor Fayose also allayed the fears of the aspirants saying: “There is no value you can add to us more than this. Your presence has gingered everyone because the party is on ground here.

“I want the other aspirants to be comfortable. The ultimate is to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti and Nigeria. I will not do anything that would undermine this process, the party and aspirants.

“In a matter like this, there will be many interests. I am for Olusola but I will stand by whosoever wins the primaries.”