A faction of the Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party under the aegis of the Repositioning Group, on Saturday, elected Lateef Ajijola as its preferred candidate for the 2022 governorship election.
He emerged victorious after he garnered 50 votes, to defeat his closest rival, a former governorship aspirant, Yinka Akerele,who got 26 votes.
A former deputy governor, Dr Sikiru Lawal, came third with four votes.
Ajijola is to face former governor Ayodele Fayose faction’s aspirant, Bisi Kolawole; and other aspirants who do not belong to the two factions including former governor, Chief Segun Oni; former deputy governor, Prof Kolapo Olusola; former banker, Kayode Adaramodu and former House of Representatives member, Wale Aribisala at the PDP governorship primaries.
Announcing the outcome of the shadow poll, the Chairman of the Repositioning Movement Electoral Committee, Aderogba Agbaje, said, “We conducted this shadow election to ensure proper democratic process in our primary. Before now, it has always been a one-man show, which we detested and we want to bring the party back to the people.”
Ajijola, in his acceptance speech, said, “It is the beginning of a journey. There is no victor, no vanquished in the exercise of today. We will continue to work together for the progress of the party.
“Senator Olujimi is unavoidably absent. Everybody is in the know of what transpired here today. She is unavoidably absent.”
However, in a statement titled, ‘Let peace reign again in Repositioning’, Olujimi said, “From day one, I had not been convinced that we needed to go that route and I still stand firmly by my decision. I maintain that I am not part of the event from yesterday (Saturday). What happened is that the majority had their way. As it stands, we need to work harder to bring cohesion back, which we will, so we can rejig and return to winning ways.”
