Fayose’s Presidential Declaration At Convention An Embarrassment- PDP Group
The Williams Ajayi-led faction of the Ekiti state Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) has described Governor Ayo Fayose’s presidential ambition declaration at the party’s non-elective National Convention as an embarrassment.
Speaking with reporters in a telephone chat with reporters in Ado Ekiti on Monday, Ajayi said the governor ought not to declare intent for the presidential position that has been zoned to the North by the party while vice presidential ticket has been ceded to Southeast and South- South.
Giving account of what transpired at the Abuja convention, Ajayi said: “When we got there on Saturday, it was a non-elective convention and it was all about unity and reconciliation and we in Ekiti stand were exchanging banters and hailing one other until Governor Fayose came from the VIP stand.
“We noticed that local government chairmen and House of Assembly members wore branded lemon colour Fayose-for-President T-shirts, going about with placards announcing his ambition for 2019 presidency.
” Fayose came from the VIP stand and ordered that delegates that did not put on the T-shirts should leave the venue and this did not go down well with those affected.
“It became a free-for-all at the Ekiti stand. After the intervention of Prof. Tunde Adeniran, some leaders withdrew by walking away from the event because of their position that Fayose’s declaring for President was an affront on the position of the winning strategy of the party as approved by the last Port Harcourt convention.
“We strongly condemn Fayose’s behaviour and show of shame in Abuja because this is a party that believes in the rule of law and a party of knowledgeable people. Fayose’s ambition is at variance to the winning strategy of the PDP in 2019.”
But in a swift reaction, the PDP faction loyal to Governor Fayose described the Ajayi-led faction as “impostors who lacks locus standi to comment on the non-elective convention held on Saturday.”
Mr Jackson Adebayo, in his reaction, maintained that Ajayi and his faction were never invited there because they were never recognised by the national secretariat, adding that the allegation that Fayose instigated a free-for-all was a big lie and an attempt to blackmail the governor.
