Ikere community shortlists Oluyede, Olusola, Afuye, two others for governor

A group in Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, the Ikere Development Fund (IDF), has shortlisted five aspirants from the two major political parties as possible candidate for the 2018 governorship election.

IDF, at a meeting held at the weekend, narrowed down its choice after conducting what a source decribed as “rigorous interview” for aspirants from the town and perused their credentials.

While three aspirants from the All Progressives Congress (APC)  were cleared for nomination, two got the nod from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The three from the APC are medical practitioner and international businessman Dr. Wole Oluyede; fomer House of Assembly Majority Leader and former Commissioner for Information, Mr. Funminiyi Afuye and former Commissioner for Commerce and Industry Chief Sesan Fatoba.

The two PDP aspirants who got the IDF’s blessing are Deputy Governor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola and former Deputy Governor and former Wema Bank Group Managing Director, Chief Adebisi Omoyeni.

IDF, which has former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), as member has been working assiduously to ensure that the community presents its best aspirants for nomination by the major political parties.

The body set up an eleven-member committee chaired by Mr. F.S. Ogundana, a lawyer to screen all governorship aspirants from the town and ensure that the best among them are narrowed down for primaries in their respective parties.

Other members of the panel are Dr. Kola Adeyina, Mr. R.T. Arifayan (Secretary),Prof. O.J. Ayodele, Rev. Tope Popoola, Tunde Fakoyede, Mr. Ola Olanipekun (SAN), Mr. Ola Alonge (Ikere Council Chairman), Mr. Olu Afolabi (deceased), Mr. Wale Ayeni and Mr. Femi Ekundayo.

A source who was part of the meeting told our reporter on Monday hat

the move became necessary to “enhance the chances of Ikere producing

the next governor and separate the wheat from the chaff.”

He said the interview and drilling of all Ikere aspirants cutting

across the parties was conducted on July 17.

A source said: “All aspirants underwent rigorous interviews to

determine their suitability for the governorship position they are

seeking and the IDF special committee has ccme out with the result of

its screening.

“We perused their credentials, antecedents, political experience and

pedigree and we have narrowed down our choice to Dr. Wole Oluyede,

Hon. Funminiyi Afuye and Chief Sesan Fatoba from the APC and

Prof.Kolapo Olusola and Chief Bisi Omoyeni from the PDP.”

In a related development, scores of PDP members in Ikere-Ekiti have

defied Governor Ayo Fayose to declare their support for former Wema

Bank boss, Omoyeni.

Led by former Ikere Local Government Caretaker Chairman, Hon. Sesan

Owoeye, they welcomed Omoyeni to the town on Saturday amidst pomp and

pageantry describing him as the best man for the PDP’s flag and the

governorship seat.

Owoeye said Omoyeni would be a better governorship candidate based on

his experience in the corporate world, provision of job opportunities

for Ekiti indigenes and other Nigerians during his tenure as bank

chief and other community development projects he carried out.

He urged the leadership of the party to allow internal democracy and

give aspirants to test their popularity in a free and fair primary.

Omoyeni said his aspiration to govern Ekiti was based on his passion

to develop the state saying the PDP remains the best vehicle to

realise the dream.

The aspirant urged party faithful to remain loyal to Fayose whom he

described as the “state party leader’ assuring them that a credible

free and fair primary will be conducted to choose the flag bearer at

the 2018 poll.

 

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