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Ex-deputy gov dumps PDP as party searches for reconciliation in Ekiti

A former deputy governor of Ekiti, Abiodun Aluko, on Wednesday announced he has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing Governor Ayo Fayose of turning…

A former deputy governor of Ekiti, Abiodun Aluko, on Wednesday announced he has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing Governor Ayo Fayose of turning the party to his personal estate and harassing prominent leaders.

His announcement came as Fayose told PDP members at a reconciliatory meeting in Ado Ekiti that the party would never tolerate dissidents seeking its downfall.

The reconciliatory meetings involved some chapters of the party in the South-West geopolitical zone.

Aluko, a PDP governorship aspirant, accused Fayose of intimidating other aspirants like Senate Deputy Minority Whip, Senator Abiodun Olujimi and the party’s national spokesman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye to drop their ambition for the 2018 gubernatorial poll.

In a letter addressed to the PDP Ward Chairman for Are/Araromi/Ayetoro in his native Ikere-Ekiti, Mr. Sulaiman Adeniyi, Aluko said Fayose’s alleged vindictive and hostile attitude as well as “illegal and unconstitutional age barrier” that anybody above the age of 60 cannot contest for any position including the governorship was his major reason for quitting the party.

Aluko, who served as deputy governor under Fayose during his first tenure, was, however, silent on his new party saying he would soon reveal his new party as soon as he concludes consultations with his supporters.

Aluko served under Fayose as deputy governor during his first tenure but he (Aluko) was impeached from office in controversial circumstances in November 2005.

Aluko said further: “I have been having a running battle with Fayose for about one-and-half years now and he said those who disagree with him on principle should come back and prostrate to him before they canbe granted amnesty. Am I a criminal or a militant needing an amnesty?

“Fayose has said it loud and clear that there is no room for reconciliation in Ekiti that he would only work with those who are with him while those who are not with him should go to hell and with his new regulation on the ages of aspirants, I have been shut out.

“All leaders in the party are so scared that a killer squad could be sent after them; recently, Senator Biodun Olujimi complained that some unknown people are trailing her around because the governor challenged her to drop her governorship ambition and she resisted.

“The same thing is happening to Dayo Adeyeye whose governorship ambition is opposed to by the governor and the situation in PDP today is too bad that when the governor is the accuser, the complainant and the judge, who do you complain to?"

Addressing delegates,  Fayose said of the reconciliatory meeting coming after the party’s convention: “The leaders have mandated us to bring on those who are ready to support our great party in the drive to chart a new way forward for the party. In doing this, we won’t give room for dissidents to frustrate us and our effort.

“Some people are claiming to be members of our party and at the same time going to court to frustrate the party. They tried unsuccessfully to stop the last convention using the court,  but they failed woefully. There is no room for anybody who is one leg in and one leg out. It is either you are here or there. I am sure no judge would allow himself to be used as a spoiler by some filthy politicians."

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