Ekiti 2022: Olujimi, Ebiesuwa, 7 Other Women Angle for PDP Ticket

Ekiti 2022: Olujimi, Ebiesuwa, 7 Other Women Angle for PDP Ticket

Chances that a woman may emerge as the next Governor in Ekiti State has brightened as 9 women join 8 male aspirants to battle for the nomination of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The 9 women have all gotten nomination forms from the party’s national secretariat, Abuja, leaving no one in doubt including their

Chances that a woman may emerge as the next Governor in Ekiti State has brightened as 9 women join 8 male aspirants to battle for the nomination of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The 9 women have all gotten nomination forms from the party’s national secretariat, Abuja, leaving no one in doubt including their male counterparts that they intend to play second fiddle in this contest.

Leading the pack is Senator Biodun Olujimi who represents Ekiti South at the Senate. Others spread across the different Local Government Areas of Ekiti State with Ido Osi haven two women aspirants. They include a leading voice for the cause of women, Mrs Cecilia Ebiesuwa (Emure), Mrs Olumide Olubunmi from Ido/Osi, Mrs Arogundade Olutoyin, Ekiti East, Princess Adekemi Adewunmi from Efon Local Government area, Mrs Adewumi Adesoye (Ado), Mrs Titilayo Owolabi Akerele (Ikole), Mrs Modupe Asaolu (Ekiti south west) and Mrs Deborah Alo ( Ido/Osi) who have all indicated interest in the race.

Olujimi, also a former Deputy Governor of the state, said her decision to join the race was borne out of the desire to salvage the state from the woods through selfless service to the people, irrespective of their social status.

The lawmaker said she decided to run following calls from stakeholders, including the downtrodden, traditional rulers and eminent sons and daughters of the state.

The Senator noted that she possessed the quality and experience required to harness the state’s vast resources for productive and developmental purposes.

She said her political and public sector experiences have prepared her for the plum job.

Olujimi, who was also Acting Governor for a brief period following the impeachment of Governor Ayodele Fayose, expressed her readiness to turn around the fortunes of the state by revolutionising all the sectors of governance with focus on the masses.

She promised that, “if given the PDP ticket and elected Governor, I will reposition Ekiti for economic prosperity by creating the enabling environment for industry to thrive with a better approach to taxation that would reduce dependence on federation allocations.

According to her, education will be one of the major objectives of my aspiration, the sector will be reformed to include not only building of schools, but also the provision of incentives to teachers.

“Our mission is to rebuild, to reposition and to regain the state’s glory. We are very committed with passion to make sure that Ekiti occupies its rightful position in the comity of states.

“And our plan is to explore all the areas of possible economic prosperity and development without exploiting the people.

“God Almighty has blessed Ekiti State with abundant natural and human resources. What we need is the right leadership. And Olujimi is the right person,” she said.

While declaring herself as the best hand for the Ekiti State most coveted seat, Olujimi said that the opposition PDP needs to put its best forward for the poll if it is serious to unseat the ruling APC.

“So, all we need is a candidate with good character, great antecedents and that is popular. And I have consistently proved that with my track record.

“My footprints are everywhere in the state despite being from Ekiti South,” she added.

On what qualifies her for the governorship seat in Ekiti, Ebiesuwa says, “I’ve been a consistent member of the PDP since inception, and I’ve always remained a grassroot person. More so, I’ve been privileged to occupy the local government positions from councilor to the secretary to the Local government and also the office of the chairman, which has exposed me to all challenges, and likely solutions of the masses and I have always lived with my people so I see myself as one of them that understand them with their body language even when they don’t speak.

“The PDP is just the only political party that knows, have, and can offer what the masses need in democracy, it is a party for the people.”

On whether she can cope with the competition from the more wealthy male counterparts, she says, “I am seeing my capacity, I am seeing my ability, I am seeing my experience, I am seeing Ekiti people that will one day say NO to money politics, and the time is just NOW, someone, some people has to belt the cat and tell our people that MONEY IS NOT EVERYTHING.

“The awareness, sensitization, and knowledge of what a man can do a woman can also do better is becoming more clearer to the women, and glory to God for this.

“My plan is to make Ekiti a better place of abode, economically, in the area of security, educationally even though it is a state of knowledge, and to build a state of comfort for our greater tommorow and as a mother, we are known to be better custodians of human and material resources. I seek to be the Governor of Ekiti State because I know I can do it better,” the gender activist asserted.

These women have a tough battle with the array of prominent men who have also indicated interest in taking over from incumbent Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi. Top of the list is former Ekiti State Governor, Mr Segun Oni, who is pressing forward with his bid to return to the Government House in 2022 after he was unseated in 2010.
The 67-year-old has obtained the party’s expression of interest and nomination forms on September 22nd to enable him contest in the state’s governorship election next year.

Oni was first elected governor in 2007 but was sacked by the court three years later in favour of Fayemi, the man he now seeks to replace next year.
He defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2014 but lost the party’s governorship ticket to Fayemi when he attempted a return in 2018, a result that frustrated him into returning to the PDP last year.

When he declared his interest to contest again months ago, Oni described the current government as an abysmal failure, especially in the areas of security, employment creation, and economy.

He also expressed confidence that the people of Ekiti are eager to remove the current party from power.
“Our road to the government house is almost clear, people have been saying that to us,” he said in July.
The 2022 Ekiti State governorship election will take place on June 18, 2022.

Immediate past Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Ekiti State, Mr Bisi Kolawole has also obtained his expression of interest and nomination forms, to contest the 2022 governorship election in the State.

The forms were purchased on September 24th at the PDP national headquarters, Abuja by the Director General of his campaign, Hon. Segun Adekola and two other former House of Representatives members, Hon Kehinde Agboola and Hon Ayo Oladimeji as well as the campaign Director of Media and Publicity, Mr Lere Olayinka and Hon Ariyo Afolabi.

Kolawole, who has the backing of former Governor of the State, Ayo Fayose, had resigned his position as state party chairman to contest the governorship.

Lere said in a statement, that Hon. Adekola described Ekiti as a “PDP State that was snatched at gunpoint by those with no love for the State.”

He said; “Our journey to regain Ekiti State has started formally and with God and the people of on our side, by this time next year, Otunba Bisi Kolawole will be addressed as Ekiti State Governor-Elect.

“For us in the campaign team of Bisi Kolawole, we are sure of getting the party ticket and are already looking forward to the election in July next year.

“It is therefore a promise from us that a Bisi Kolawole governorship will return Ekiti to that path of progress and development that the State was robbed of in 2018.”

While commending Fayose for his support and commitment to the Bisi Kolawole governorship aspiration, the campaign director general said “For the love they have for Fayose, the people of Ekiti can not wait to use their votes to deliver the state for the PDP and Kolawole.”

There’s also the Prof Kolapo Olushola Eleka, former Deputy Governor under the administration of Governor Ayo Fayose. Eleka was the PDP candidate in the 2018 governorship election. But it doesn’t appears that he has the nod of his boss this time around as Fayose is casting lot for Kolawole.

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