Exclusive Interview: Bad Losers Calling For My Disqualification -Fayose

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News, Politics Wednesday, March 19th, 2014

By Oyewale Oyelola

Former Governor of Ekiti state and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant for 2014 gubernatorial election in Ekiti state, Mr Ayodele Fayose has described other PDP aspirants calling for his disqualification ahead of April 22 PDP primary election as bad losers who are afraid of defeat.

Fayose stated this in an online chat with African Examiner correspondent.

According to him, “People calling for my disqualification are political non-challant and bad losers who are afraid of imminent defeat in the PDP primary election. I don’t think any sane person would be calling for my disqualification after I fulfill all righteousness and cleared by screening committee.

“Everybody is free to write petition or say whatever they like. We are in democratic era, they are entitle to their own opinion. I don’t want to joint issue with anybody. I have done my home work and we meet at the field”.

He reiterated his decision to remain PDP even he did not emerge as the party flagbearer for gubernatorial election in Fountain of knowledge state. “I would not change my decision to remain in PDP even if the primary does not favor me. I will ensure PDP return to government house in Ekiti state”. He added.

It would be recalled that one of the governorship aspirants in PDP, Mr. Deji Ajayi sent petition to PDP, National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu to disqualify Fayose from participating in PDP primary election schedule for Saturday April 22, 2014 because Fayose had ceased to be member of the party when he once defected to Labour party.

The petition read thus ” “Sir, the subject person, Mr. Ayo Fayose, who is not a party member, has been parading himself as an aspirant on the platform of the party for some time without going through and/or fulfilling the constitutional prerequisites to becoming a member of the Party.

“It may be apposite to state the facts of how Mr. Fayose, who was once a member of the party, lost his membership and has never been re-admitted to full membership of the party to confer the status of participating in the electoral process leading to the emergence of the party’s candidate.

“Sir, the subject person was the Governor of Ekiti State between 2003 and 2006 when he was impeached by the State House of Assembly and went on a self-imposed exile. Upon his return, he left the party and joined the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) and campaigned across the State for that party’s candidate in the 2007 Gubernatorial election.

“In 2013, he did not only join the Labour Party, he was also the candidate of that Party for the Ekiti Central Senatorial seat which he lost with a wide margin to the candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria. Sir, it is a notorious fact that cannot be denied that the subject person, with these antecedents lost his membership of the party.

“It is conceded that the subject person has, to the general knowledge and to the personal knowledge of our client, taken the initial steps towards becoming a member of the party in line with the provision of section 8(17) of the Constitution of the party, however, no recommendation has been made to the National Working Committee for his readmission to the party.

“Sir, assuming without conceding that such recommendation has been made to the National Working Committee of the Party, such readmission has not been ratified by the National Executive Committee of the Party.

“It may be relevant at this juncture to quote out the provision of section 8(17) of the Party” Constitution for the effect; Chapter II, Section 8 (17) of the PDP Constitution sates that:’Any member who loses his membership for reasons other than non-payment of annual subscription may be readmitted on the recommendation of his Ward Executive Committee, through the Local Government Area Executive Committee, to the State Chapter of the party, and ultimately made to the National Working Committee, subject to ratification by the National Executive Committee”.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Screening Committee headed by Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba had earlier cleared 13 out of 16 aspirants for the Ekiti Governorship primary election slated for April 22.

Those cleared are: Ayo Fayose, a former governor of the state, retired Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade,a former Minister of Police Affairs, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye, Abiodun Aluko and Dr Omolara Adubiaro.

Others include: Adeyanju Sunday, Erelu Ogundipe, Adewale Aribisala, Oladeji Omoyeni, Mr Oluwadare Bajide, Olubenga Aluko, Oluropo Ogunbolude and Ajayi Ayodeji.

While Senator Bode Olowoporoku, Mrs Bosede Dada and Mr Peter were disqualified from contesting the primary election.