Ekiti 2014: Fayose substitutes running mate

The flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party for the June 21 Ekiti State gubernatorial election, Ayo Fayose, on Tuesday said the name of his running mate earlier submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission has been substituted.
The name of an 80-year-old retired teacher, Pa Joshua Ojo, was earlier submitted to INEC as the candidate’s running mate.
The Director-General of the Campaign Organisation, Dipo Anisulowo, who spoke on behalf of Fayose, disclosed this in Ado Ekiti.
Anisulowo said that the name of Dr. Olubunmi Olusola, who is in his 50s, was forwarded to INEC as a replacement for Ojo.
He said: “The name of Pa Joshua Ojo, earlier submitted to the electoral body was done to beat the April 28 deadline earlier set by INEC.
“The actual name of our deputy was kept close to our chest as a political strategy since INEC timetable for the poll allowed for substitution of candidate or their deputies.
“The choice of Olusola was arrived at in order to give the people of the Southern part of the state a sense of belonging in the political calculation.”
Olusola, who is an Associate Professor with the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, is a native of Ikere-Ekiti in Ikere Local Government Area of Ekiti State.
The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Alhaji Halilu Pai, had last week released the list of the political parties and their candidates for the June 21 poll.
It gave the parties up to May 13 to substitute names of either candidates or their running mates.