Fayose manipulates Ekiti PDP primaries –Arise

A former member of the Senate, Ayo Arise, has alleged
that the Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose,
manipulated the list of the Peoples Democratic Party
delegates that participated in primaries in the state.
He alleged that different lists were used for the primaries
for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives and
the Senate. Arise, who described himself as a diehard
loyalist of President Goodluck Jonathan, told our
correspondent in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday that Fayose
frustrated many aspirants from getting the PDP tickets
through the manipulation of the delegates’ list.
He said, “The governor selected the delegates. I only
went to the venue of the primary to satisfy my conscience
and for the fact that the governor promised a level-playing
field.
“There could be no level-playing field when Fayose had
selected all the delegates. For me, I have satisfied my
conscience and I will be faithful to the PDP.
“In all the elections that took place in Ekiti State, the
governor installed all his preferred candidates.
“The primary held on December 5 had a different list of
delegates, the one that held a week before had a different
list of delegates while the one in which I participated on
Sunday had another list.
“Because of the frequent changes, we were not even sure
of the delegates we were dealing with.”
Arise, however, urged the governor to ensure the party
remain one, promising to support President Goodluck
Jonathan for his re-election.
Efforts to reach Fayose’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr.
Idowu Adelusi, as of press time proved abortive.
He neither answered his calls nor responded to a text
message from our correspondent on Thursday and
Friday.