Political leaders in the Ekiti South Senatorial District, under the aegis of Ekiti South Leader’s Forum (ESLF) has declared support for the election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate through consensus, saying; “It is in the interest of the PDP, Ekiti people and peoples of the South Senatorial District for a candidate to be picked from among the aspirants from the zone through consensus.”
The leaders said the consensus option will save the party the crisis and waste of money usually associated with primary elections, adding that; “No aspirant is greater than the party, and its Leader, President Goodluck Jonathan who suggested the consensus option.”
In a release signed by its Chairman, Afolabi Ojuawo and Secretary, Gboyega Akinola, the Southern leaders insisted that the PDP must pick its gubernatorial candidate from the zone to enhance the party’s chances of winning the forthcoming governorship election in Ekiti State.
They said; “No indigene of the zone will settle for anything other than the governorship.
“The position of our people in the South is that PDP should pick its governorship candidate from the South, and Minister from either Central or the North.
“This will be in obedience to Chapter 1:7, Sub Section 3c of its Constitution which states that; ‘the party shall pursue its aim and objectives by adhering to the policy of rotation and zoning of party and public elective offices in pursuance of principle of equity, justice and fairness.’
“We still maintain that position.
“On the issue of primary election, it is our position that the PDP should first and foremost zone the governorship to the South, and thereafter allow the party leaders to present an acceptable candidate from among the aspirants.
“Already, all the aspirants in the South have agreed to the consensus option, leaving only one aspirant from another zone as the only antagonist of the arrangement.
“Therefore, no aspirant from the South is against consensus and the position of the aspirants is not as a result of weakness, but a demonstration of their commitment to ensuring victory for the PDP in the June 21 election.”
