Police took over the Peoples Democratic Party’s secretariat in Ado Ekiti on Saturday to forestall breakdown of law and order during the ward congresses.
Our correspondent who monitored the congresses observed that they were peaceful except complaints about the compilation of the list of the adhoc delegates.
A former Senate member, Ayo Arise, who spoke with journalists, said the Governor, Ayodele Fayose, “did not allow any Congress to hold here in Ekiti North Senatorial district.
“He had already compiled the list of delegates in favour of my challenger, Hon Duro Faseyi. So , as I am talking to you, the chairmen of all the wards and local governments have been summoned to Ado Ekiti by the Governor to sign the forged lists,” Arise alleged.
But the Acting State Chairman, Mr. Taelolu Otitoju, in an interview with journalists said he was not aware of any rancor in the congresses.
He said the committee from the National Secretariat led by Mr. Abubakar Mukhtar was on the field to monitor the situation.
Fayose also denied doctoring the list of adhoc delegates that emerged in the ward congresses held on Saturday in the state.
He stated this while reacting to the allegation raised by Arise, who had earlier accused of him instructing ward chairmen to prepare a list of loyal members as adhoc delegates for the 177 wards in the state.
Arise had also alleged that the Governor had prepared a list of 26 candidates for the state assembly without recourse to the congress.
But Fayose, who briefed newsmen at his Spotless Hotel in Ado Ekiti on Saturday said he allowed the ward chairmen free hands in the congresses.
He said, “All the ward chairmen and aspirants in each of the local government were allowed to take charge.
“ I did not in any way interfere. All I did was to give them direction as a party leader. I called the aspirants and the Chairmen to ensure that the lists of delegates are authentic, which they did in the full glare of everybody,” Fayose said.
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Ward Congress: Jonathan, Dickson preach peace in Bayelsa
President Goodluck Jonathan and Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson Saturday participated in the party congresses in the 105 wards of the 8 local government councils of the state, preaching peace ahead of political, activities in the state.
President Goodluck Jonathan, who had arrived the state Friday and held marathon meetings with stakeholders at the state government house and his private residence at the Kpansia suburb of Yenagoa was reported to have called on aspirants and party leaders to maintain peaceful conduct during the ward congress in the state.
The President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, according to his aides, later moved to his ward headquarters in Otuabadi in Ogbia local government area of the state.
The State Party Chairman, Col.Sam Inokoba, while receiving the ward delegate election materials from the National Electoral Committee of the Party led by Prince Adesina Buramoh, called on delegates and aspirants to be peaceful and that the party has provided a level playing field for the ward delegate elections in the state.
“We may have made mistakes but those mistakes are excusable because we are human,” he said.
Governor Seriake Dickson, after participating in the Option A4 voting during the ward delegate election at ward 2 in Angalabiri community of Sagbama local government area of the state, commended the party faithfuls for their peaceful disposition to the delegate election.
“I thank party for the turn out during the ward congresses and appreciate party leaders in the various wards. At my ward, I congratulate you for electing a female councillor to the legislative Assembly of the council and a female delegate at the ward delegate election,It shows we are gender sensitive,” he said.
