A political pressure group, the Ekiti Good Governance Group (EGGG), has accused President Goodluck Jonathan of giving some aspirants money to buy the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) governorship nomination forms for the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State.
In a statement yesterday signed by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Taiwo Ojo, the group alleged that the large turnout of aspirants jostling for the party’s ticket was “a grand scheme to perfect their plans to rig the election, having created the impression that many contenders scrambled to contest the poll on the PDP’s platform.”
Aspirants that have obtained nomination forms include Prince Dayo Adeyeye; former Minister for Police Affairs Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd.); Dare Bejide; former Governor Ayodele Fayose; Senator Gbenga Aluko; Mr. Bisi Omoyeni; Abiodun Aluko and Mr. Deji Ajayi.
Others are Mr. Bodunde Adeyanju; Mrs. Bosede Dada Bamisaye; Dr. Peter Obafemi; Mr. Wale Aribisala; Alhaja Habibat Adubiaro; Senator Bode Olowoporoku; Chief Ropo Ogunbolude; Mrs. Bola Oloyede; Otunba Reuben Famuyibo and Mrs. Modupe Ogundipe.
EGGG alleged that the president bought nomination forms for the 18 governorship aspirants, adding: “This is to create the impression that the PDP is popular.”
It described the President’s “scheme” as an exercise in futility, adding that the PDP could not produce a credible candidate that could dislodge Governor Kayode Fayemi.
EGGG said: “The presidency promised to give PDP aspirants N25 million each, if they buy the nomination form, which cost N11 million. Their plan is to create an aura of acceptance to the public. They erroneously assume that if many aspirants could obtain the nomination forms, it would create the impression that the PDP ticket is competitive, even when they know that the party has no chance in the June 21 election.
“They are doing this so when they eventually rig, they can say their party’s ticket was competitively contested for because the aspirants knew PDP was the party to beat, but we know this is a blatant lie.”
The group warned the PDP against violence during the election, adding: “Ekiti people are prepared, just as they did in 2007 and 2011, to reject the PDP at the June 21 governorship poll.”
State PDP Publicity Secretary Pastor Kola Oluwawole described the allegation as “laughable, fallacious and ridiculous.”
Oluwawole said: “Why would the President fund such an exercise that is purely a party affair? The fact that 18 of the 33 aspirants that showed interests have procured their forms showed that the PDP is vibrant and popular in Ekiti. In fact, we are the government in waiting.’’
Source: The Nation
No comments:
Post a Comment