A former commissioner and immediate past chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party in Ekiti State, Chief Bisi Kolawole, was last night declared winner of the primary election of the party held yesterday to fly the party’s flag in June 18 governorship election in the state.
Kolawole, former chairman of the PDP in Ekiti, edged out Chief Segun Oni, an ex-governor, and Prof. Kolapo Olusola, a former deputy governor of the state. The primary election was held in Ado-Ekiti.
Other aspirants who contested the primary are Senator Biodun Olujimi, Yinka Akerele, Deji Ogunsakin, Lateef Ajijola, Wale Aribisala, Ayodeji Kazeem, Kayode Adaramodu and Wale Aribisala.
Olujimi, the senator representing Ekiti South, later pulled out of the shadow election, citing alleged manipulation of delegates’ list in favour of a particular aspirant.
The delegates first converged on Pastoral Centre in Ado-Ekiti to get accredited, after which they moved to Great Eagle Hall for the voting.
Kolawole was declared the winner by the chairman, electoral committee of the party, Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State. He said Kolawole won having scored the highest number of votes cast.
According to him, Kolawole scored a total of 671 votes to defeat his closest rival, Oni, who polled 330 votes.
Other highlights of the poll included void votes, 13; Adekemi Adewumi, one; Biodun Olujimi, two; Lateef Ajijola, one; Ayodeji Kazeem, six; Kayode Adaramodu, 10; Kolapo Olusola, 93 and Adewale Aribisala, 56.
Addressing journalists, Governor Udom appreciated party members for their display of maturity and cooperation, which led to the success of the poll.
He noted that the election was transparent and devoid of any manipulation, and called on the winner to be magnanimous in victory, while those who lost should be strong in defeat
Kolawole had resigned his position as Ekiti PDP chairman to contest the governorship election. Kolawole is a former lawmaker representing Efon constituency in the state House of Assembly. He also served as Commissioner of Environment between 2015 and 2018.
While endorsing Kolawole for the governorship election, Fayose had described him as a bridge-builder who will usher in a better future for Ekiti and the PDP.
“The man you have come to honour, Bisi Kolawole, is our collective project. I made him my preferred candidate in the overall interest of our party, but this does not foreclose due process of nomination in PDP,” Fayose said.
