Ekiti: Adeyeye kicks as 12 aspirants claim Jonathan’s backing for consensus candidate

There is confusion in the circle of the 12 aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party opposed to the candidacy of a former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, for the upcoming governorship election in the state.
While the 12 aspirants claimed that they have the backing of President Goodluck Jonathan to select a consensus candidate, one of them, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, has kicked over the choice they made.
The 12 aspirants met on Saturday in Abuja and chose Senator Gbenga Aluko as their consensus candidate.
Among those at the meeting were a former Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd); Wale Aribisala; Ropo Ogunbolude; Modupe Ogundipe; Dr. Kadijat Adubiaro; Peter Obafemi; Deji Ajayi; Dare Bejide; and Bodunde Adeyanju.
Aluko told newsmen after the meeting: “The move by the pro-consensus aspirants to select me was an unanimous decision taken after due consideration.
“The next move will be to present me to the party’s national leaders for approval.”
The Chairman of the PDP in Ekiti State, Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, reportedly presided over the meeting.
Ogundipe is also opposed to the emergence of Fayose as the party’s candidate.
Aluko said it was Ogundipe that wrote to Jonathan to secure the President’s approval for the meeting to select a consensus candidate to be held.
However, Adeyeye, who was at the meeting, has kicked over the outcome.
Adeyeye described Aluko as an unpopular candidate who was selected by just five out of those present at the meeting.
Adeyeye said in a statement by the Director General of his campaign organisation, Hon. Bisi Kolawole: “The 12 aspirants that met in Abuja yesterday (Friday) did not unanimously agree on anyone as a consensus candidate.”
Adeyeye said in the statement that “any agreement on a consensus candidate this time around must be truly unanimous”.
He added: “A situation where only five very weak aspirants supported one of the aspirants cannot be regarded as a consensus agreement. Rather, consensus should take into consideration the strength of the aspirants.
“Most importantly, what ought to have been done was for the aspirants to call for the implementation of the Chief Bode George’s Committee Report, which all of them signed to abide with.
“Since all the aspirants signed to abide with the decision of the Chief Bode George Committee, what should have been done simply was the implementation of the report, and that was what Prince Adeyeye pointed out at the meeting.
“It is therefore our position in PAAM that if the consensus option is still necessary in view of the present situation, report of the Chief Bode George Committee, which considered the strength of the aspirants must form the basis.”