Fayose, top PDP members, Again Absent in Atiku’s Ekiti Rally

PDP members turned out to welcome Atiku Abubakar, the party’s presidential candidate, to Ado Ekiti, the state capital of Ekiti, on Tuesday for a rally.

Commercial cars and motorcycles had been off the highways earlier in the day, leaving travellers between states and within states stranded.

The commercial transport providers claimed that their activity was in response to statewide prayers observed by their associations. PDP members claimed that this was done in an effort to discourage people from attending the rally.

This occurred when Ayodele Fayose, a former governor of the state, Bisi Kolawole, the acting PDP State Chairman Lanre Omolase, seven of the nine PDP National Assembly candidates, and twenty of the 26 candidates for the House of Assembly avoided the presidential rally.

The PDP candidates claimed that Atiku refused all their requests to meet with him to discuss the development. The PDP candidates had previously rejected the inclusion of Social Democratic Party members in the Presidential Campaign Council for the state on the grounds that it could harm their electoral chances.

In his speech to the crowd, Atiku said that, if he were to win the election on February 25, his administration would use all available means to promote socioeconomic development. He also said that he would take his time building the Ado-Akure Road and other highways connecting to Ekiti State.

“I am highly impressed with the huge crowd we are seeing here today despite antics of the APC government to cripple and sabotage the rally with fake fuel shortages and a ban on drivers from Ekiti roads; let me assure you that we will make you happy for making us happy today,” the PDP presidential candidate said.

“Ekiti is a state of intellectual prowess and we will tap into this in our government to develop and transform the nation,” Atiku said.

PDP Vice Presidential candidate and Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, said, “With what we have seen here today, we are sure that the people of Ekiti State will vote for Atiku” as he urged the electorate in the state to “use your PVC to send APC out of Nigeria.”

Earlier, PDP National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, handed over flags to the Ekiti South Senatorial candidate, Biodun Olujimi; and House of Representative’s candidate for (Ekiti South 1), Henrich Akomolafe